The network of caverns beneath the surface of the Earth is a world unto itself. Entrances to this underground world are all over the planet, though some of them are definitely more notable than others. While a lot of these caverns are only accessible with ropes and other climbing gear, there are several that have become popular enough that they make a point of accommodating tourists who want to visit them. It still may be quite the hike sometimes, but at least there’s less danger involved. For the less-than-expert cave explorer, I have put together a quick list of six world-famous caves around the world. Each provides tours and (mostly) easy access to the cave sites themselves. If you want to take a look at this wonderful underground world, some of these may be just right for you.
Carlsbad Caverns - New Mexico, United States
New Mexico is well-known for being the home of Carlsbad CavernsNational Park, the most famous site of which is, naturally, the caverns. This is a very popular place for tourists, with hundreds-of-thousands of people showing up every year to tour the caves. Thus, they are set up to accommodate even the most timid of cave enthusiasts.
Once thought to contain the largest natural cavern in the world, that has since been revealed false. Still, the “BigCave” measures in at a staggering 3800 by 600 feet. It has even been converted to supply a toilet and a place to eat for visitors on their way through. The caves are a network of pools, fossils, and rock formations of all types, set up with some nice walkways to keep you on track (and safe).
Eisriesenwelt Cave - Werfen, Austria
EisriesenweltCave may not be as easy to visit as the rest on this list, but its beauty makes it worth mentioning. It happens to be the largest ice cave on the planet, with more than 26 miles of caves and caverns. The journey to Eisriesenwelt begins with a trip into the mountains along a man-made path. Within the caves, more paths are there to prevent too many slips, though some good boots are recommended. This is a wondrous underground landscape of limestone and ice that resembles something out of a fantasy world. Ironically, the cave isn’t open during the winter, so you’ll have to arrange a visit during the warmer season, from May to October.
Hidden Worlds Caverns - Quintana Roo, Mexico
The Hidden Worlds Caverns are Part of the larger HiddenWorldsCenoteAdventurePark, located right near Cancun. These water-filled caverns offer some unique adventure in the form of diving and snorkeling tours. You can also take a try at one of the zip lines set up inside the caves or take a sky cycle ride across the top of the rainforest canopy outside the caves. Despite being a bit of a touristy destination, Hidden Worlds is not built-up to look touristy. In fact, a ride through the forest is required to get to the location. The tours of the caves have a focus on the educational as well, and combined with all the other things to do, Hidden Caverns is a good choice for a family cave adventure.
Phong NhaCave - Vietnam
Located in north-central Vietnam, Phong Nha is the second largest cave in this country. Nearly five miles of caves lurk here, although many of them are not surveyed and thus visitors will only get to explore the first mile or so. The caves are conveniently located in the similarly titled Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, a location known for having hundreds of caves. Within PhongNhaCave, expect to see the usual assortment of spectacular domes, grottos and rock formations of all kinds.
Waitomo GlowwormCaves - New Zealand
Waitomo is located on New Zealand’s NorthIsland, just northwest of Te Kuiti. It may not be the biggest or the best, but what does make this cave unique is that it is the habitat for a species of glowworm that occurs nowhere else in the world. Visitors take a canoe ride through the water-filled caverns and observe the strange light-show, a phenomenon that makes the caverns appear more like the starry night sky. And the GlowwormCaves are just one part of a much larger system, so there’s plenty more to explore.
Yellow DragonCave - Hangzhou, China
More properly known as HuanglongCave, this has to be one of the most tourist-friendly cave systems in the entire world. The Chinese saw fit to install within these caverns a series of walkways, stairways and pretty much everything you need to traverse the underworld in safety. The predefined paths take you past waterfalls and rock formations, all lit up in a variety of colors. One can even take a boat ride on an underground river. If you’re looking for someplace natural, YellowDragonCave is definitely not it. If you want to see a beautiful cave that also happens to be a themed attraction, then this is the place for you. Check out even more photos of these caves at this site.
Cave Entrance photo courtesy of Adrian Michael via Wikicommons
Carlsbad Caverns photo courtesy of National Park Service via Wikicommons
EisriesenweltCave photo courtesy of Dale Harvey vie Wikicommons
Hidden Worlds photo courtesy of wetset.com
PhongNhaCaves photo courtesy of Genghiskhanviet via Wikicommons
GlowwormCaves photo courtesy of nomadicmatt.com
YellowDragonCave photo courtesy of Dimain69 via Wikicommons
0 comments