Eisriesenwelt — World of the Ice Giants

 The Eisriesenwelt (German for "World of the Ice Giants") is a natural limestone ice cave located in Werfen, Austria, about 40 km south of Salzburg. The cave is inside the Hochkogel mountain in the Tennengebirge section of the Alps. It is the largest ice cave in the world, extending more than 42km and visited by about 200,000 tourists every year.

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The Tennengebirge mountains were formed during the late Tertiary period, during the Würm glaciation period of the Pleistocene. The mountain range, one of the massifs in the Austrian Alps, is the largest karst plateau in the Salzburger Alps, and the Eisriesenwelt is located at the rim of this plateau. Although the cave has a length of 42 km, only the first kilometer, the area that tourists are allowed to visit, is covered in ice. The rest of the cave is formed of limestone. Eisriesenwelt was formed by the Salzach river, which eroded passageways into the mountain. The ice formations in the cave were formed by thawing snow which drained into the cave and froze during winter. Since the entrance to the caves is open year-round, chilly winter winds blow into the cave and freeze the snow inside. In summer, a cold wind from inside the cave blows toward the entrance and prevents the formations from melting. 

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History — The first official discovery of Eisriesenwelt was by Anton Posselt, a natural scientist from Salzburg, in 1879, though he only explored the first two hundred meters of the cave. Before his discovery, the cave was known only to locals, who, believing that it was an entrance to Hell, refused to explore it. In 1880, Posselt published his findings in a mountaineering magazine, but the report was quickly forgotten. Alexander von Mörk, a speleologist from Salzburg, was one of the few people who remembered Posselt's discovery. He led several expeditions into the caves beginning in 1912, which were soon followed by other explorers. Von Mörk was killed in World War I in 1914, and an urn containing his ashes is inside a niche in the cave. In 1920, a cabin for the explorers, Forscherhütte, was built and the first routes up the mountain were established. Tourists began to arrive soon after, attracted by the cave's sudden popularity. Later another cabin, the Dr. Oedl House, and paths from Werfen and Tänneck were constructed. In 1955 a cable car was built, shortening the 90-minute climb to 3 minutes. Today the Eisriesenwelt cave is owned by the National Austrian Forest Commission, which has leased it to the Salzburg Association of Cave Exploration since 1928. The Forest Commission still receives a percentage of the entrance fees.

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Visiting — The cave is open from May 1st to October 26th every year. Its operating hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in July and August and 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in May/June and September/October.  Temperatures inside the cave are usually below freezing, and warm clothing is recommended. Photography is not permitted once visitors are inside the cave. The tour begins at the entrance to the cave, and continues inwards to Posselt Hall, a large room with a stalagmite called Posselt Tower in the centre. Past the Posselt Tower, one encounters an ashen cross on the wall of the cave, marking the farthest point of exploration of Anton Posselt. From there one can see the Great Ice Embankment, a massive formation that rises to a height of 25 metres and represents the area of greatest ice growth. Next is Hymir's Castle, named after a giant in Norse mythology. Here stalactites create a formation called Frigga's Veil, or the Ice Organ. Next on the tour is the Alexander von Mörk Cathedral, one of the largest rooms in the cave and the final resting place of von Mörk's ashes. The final stop on the tour is the Ice Palace, a kilometre into the cave and 400 metres underground. From here, visitors must turn around and walk back through the caves to reach the entrance. The round-trip tour through the cave takes around one hour and 15 minutes. Wiki

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Inside World's Biggest Cave

Into the depths of the earth: Cave network in the heart of Vietnamese jungle is so large its end is yet to be found

These are the breathtaking images which capture the hidden depths of the world's biggest cave passage, which still has left cavers still searching for its end.

Hidden in the depths of the Vietnamese jungle lies The Hang Son Doong, part of a network of over 150 caves.

Discovered by British cavers in 2009, the cave passage in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park was originally thought to be a modest 150 metres long and 200 feet high.

Intrepid journey: A caver stands in front of a huge rock formation as the light shines beneath a skylight in Hang Son Doong

But these remarkable images - taken during two further expeditions of the caves - show the previously undiscovered depths of the magnificent cave passage, now the largest in the world.

At a mammoth 2.5 miles long, 330ft wide and almost 800ft high, Hang Son Doong also known as Mountain River Cave, is as high as 25 double decker buses.

And as shown in these amazing images taken by photographer Carsten Peter, there is even a jungle concealed deep inside the cave.

Carsten from Munich, Germany, took the images in 2010 when he joined British and German cavers during further expeditions of the site.

Wonderful waterfalls: A waterfall explodes into Hang Son Doong in the hidden depths of the Vietnamese jungle, which is part of a network of over 150 caves

The purpose of the expedition was to make a complete exploration of Hang Son Doong and create a photographic record of the cave.

Cartsen, 52 said he spent up to two weeks at a time deep inside the caves, where he slept with just a sleeping bag and spent his time exploring and photographing the secret underground world.

He said: ‘We discovered new parts of the cave, it's a huge area so to find them and access them is very difficult.

‘Photographing caves of this size is a challenge, it needs a lot of preparation.

Going underground: Expedition members enter the cave, tunnelled out by the Rao Thuong River in Vietnam - the cave was discovered in 2009

‘But it's a great feeling to photograph a newly discovered cave, for me I see the cave for the first time when I see the photographs.

‘I love to explore, I have been in some great caves in my lifetime and this is one of the most magnificent.

‘I've been a photographer and explorer for the last 35 years and I've visited so many caves, I've lost count.

‘But this is by far one of the most unique and unusual caves I have ever seen.

‘To see a cave so large it has a forest inside is superb - it was overwhelming.’

Gigantic proportions: At a mammoth 2.5 miles long, 330ft wide and almost 800ft high, Hang Son Doong also known as Mountain River Cave, is as high as 25 double decker buses

World's Largest Ice Caves

Ice caves are very different from normal caves. They have a strange feeling about them, as though they are not from this planet, and one has just temporarily stepped into their world when spelunking their depths.

There are many ice caves throughout the world, but the Eisriesenwelt Ice Caves in Austria are some of the largest known to man. They are located within the Tennengebirge Mountains near Salzburg and stretch for a remarkable 40 kilometers. Only a portion of the labyrinth is open to tourists but it's enough to get a taste of what the remaining network is like: a truly mesmerizing palate of Mother Nature's handicraft.

For a photographic journey through these amazing caves, click on the link below and delve into the icy realms of Eisriesenwelt--the World of Ice Giants.

Sea Caves

 Sea Caves!

 Limestone caves and Limestone blocks!

Crystal Cavesand Crystal blocks!

 Caves with Ponds or lakes in them.

 Cave of Crystals, Mexico

 What more could be said about this cave?? Super heroes would bow down in front of these true giants of crystals, some measuring up to 11 meters. Mexico’s Cueva de Los Cristales (Cave of Crystals) is definitely a must see, if you’re interested in caves, or just in seeing something that’s absolutely unbelievable, if you don’t see it for yourself. It’s without a doubt another proof of what wonderful things can appear when water meets limestone.

 It was discovered by two brothers, who named its antechamber the Queen’s Eye. The cave itself measures 290 meters underground, but these huge crystals of gypsum are way more fragile than you would probably believe. Hopefully people will understand its value and treat with care, as they should, when you’re dealing with such amazing beauties.

Mammoth cave, Kentucky, USA

 What the Mammoth cave lacks in “originality”, it makes up in size; it’s the largest cave system in the world, measuring just under 600 km, and it has some amazing features which make it an attraction for a significant number of tourists each year. Its limestone maze is not where you want to be going yourself, as you probably won’t have enough bread crums to get you out of there.

 It’s also a national park, easy to access and with numerous attractions for everybody, from biking and hiking to speology and geology studies. The hypnotic display of stalactites and stalagmites fascinates and dazzles anybody who has the inspiration of visiting this caves in which people have lived since prehistoric times, but started really appreciating it just a few decades ago.

Majlis al Jinn Cave, Oman

 Located in a remote area of the Selma Plateau in Oman, Majlis Jinn Cave humbles even the proudest of men. The entrance is made by one of two small pits which are visible from the outside and don’t give out the true dimensions of what awaits the explorer. Because once you go down a bit, you’ll find yourself in a chamber that’s 150 meters tall, and with a floor that’s 300 meters long and 200 meters wide.

 Even the biggest Egyptian pyramid would easily fit in this chamber. It’s a view that makes people look no bigger than ants, and despite the fact that it’s remote and hard to reach, if you ever get the chance to visit it, you will definitly have an experience that will remain with you, impossible to erase.

Eisriesenwelt Ice Caves, Austria

 The world’s largest ice caves in the world represent an attraction for everybody who knows how to appreciate the true beauties our planet has to give. Located near Salzburg and stretching almost 40 km, it’s open from May to October for visiting.

 The tour may be a bit tiring and chilli (it is an ice cave), but you will find it worth it. It includes visiting of the Great Ice Embankment, a huge formation of ice high of over 25 meters, and Hymir’s Castle, inspired from Mythology, and even a “cathedral”, Alexander von Mörk Cathedral, which is the resting place of von Mörk’s ashes.

Waitomo Glowworm Cave, New Zeeland

 Not a fascinating cave itself, it’s famous (as the name says)for its population of glowworms. Arachnocampa luminosa, is unique to New Zealand, and thousands of these unmistakable creatures span their light for visitors both from the country and from outside it.

Over your 45 minute guided tour, you have the chance of seeing these creatures spin a nest out of silk from the ceiling and then hang down; larva cover the ceiling sparkling light that resembles that of the stars. The limestone shafts are also amazing.

Zhong Dong cave, China

Another cave that has no amazing geological particularities or such, Zhong Dong cave is amazing by its use; whether you believe it or not, it’s actually a primary school. The teaching process takes place in a huge chamber that resembles a hangar, carved by air and water in millions of years.

It started to be used in 1984 and since it has grown considerably, now having 8 teachers and 186 students. Aside from the cave, it’s pretty much just as any other school, with a playing ground and classrooms.