Fun Fact: Have you ever heard the old gem that the only thing that doesn’t echo is a duck’s quack? Well, like most things you ‘heard’ somewhere, it’s complete nonsense. We’re not saying you should take a duck caving with you, but if you did, and it was so inclined to quack.. there would be an echo.
Let’s start with some common cave structures, stalactites and stalagmites, and an easy way to remember the difference between them from now on. The key is in the letters. StalagMites rise up from the ground, like the two halves of M. StalacTites drop down from the ceiling, like the vertical part of T. Isn’t learning fun?
Afraid of the dark? Even if you are, popular caves are usually quite well lit and well worth experiencing. For the more daring out there, few experiences can rival the absolute solitude and pitch blackness of being deep underground. If you would like to understand how caves form (and you should), the only readable explanation on the internet is, somewhat unsurprisingly, written for children.
Making it Happen
Caves are found throughout the world, but here are a few of our favourites:
Waitomo Caves - Located on the North Island of New Zealand, the Waitomo Caves are actually a collection of more than 300 limestone caves featuring giant stalactite and stalagmite displays, underground lakes and streams, and most notably, glowworms. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves were made famous by these tiny inhabitants that put on an incredible show of bioluminescence, like tiny stars lighting up an underground sky. This beautiful attraction boasts a modern visitor center and both boat and walking tours.
Marble Caves - The largest lake in Chile, General Carrera Lake, has a secret. In the lake’s center are a group of caves, caverns, pillars, and tunnels formed inside huge marble monoliths. The caverns were formed over thousands of years by erosion from the wind and waves. The walls inside the cavern are overlaid with intricate designs that are tinted a stunning turquoise blue from the crystal clear water. These isolated caverns are only accessible when the weather is cooperating, by small boat or kayak.
Mammoth Cave National Park - The longest cave system in the entire world is found in the Green River Valley of south central Kentucky. The caves feature more than 400 miles of underground passageways, with new discoveries adding to that total each year. Short, lighted tours are available for visitors who wish to see the popular chambers and caverns with massive and intricate rock formations. For visitors wanting a bit more adventure, strenuous cave tours are also available.
Eisriesenwelt - Located in the Austrian Alps, Eisriesenwelt, meaning “World of the Ice Giants”, is the largest ice cave in the world. It extends more than 26 miles, and 200,000 people visit each year. Inside the cave, pillars of ice form giant stalactites and stalagmites, along with other beautiful and massive ice formations. The cave is privately owned and operated, with walking tours available from May to October.
Miles of underground wilderness exist in unexpected places throughout the world. These unique destinations are rare and hidden treasure troves full of dark beauty and grand adventure, just waiting for you to discover them. Just make sure you bring a spare flashlight..
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