Caves have fascinated people since ancient times. Caves have been used for different kinds of reasons; for protection, as religious places, and for funerals. Today, one can learn about our ancestors who lived in and used the caves and also about how the climate has changed over the years.
Cave of the Crystals, Mexico
First out on the list of the top 10 underground caves in the world is the Cave of the Crystals. This cave was discovered in 2000 by miners in northern Mexico. The main chamber contains some of the world’s largest natural crystals ever found in a cave – where the largest had a length of 11 meters and a weight of 55 tons. Thanks to the heat inside the cave, the crystals have been able to become that big!
Puerto Princesa Underground River, Philippines
In the middle of the jungle on the northern coast of Palawan lies an underground river and cave that stretches 8.2 kilometers. It’s possible to take a boat along the river, which can provide travelers with imagination and a sense of the “death ride along the river to Hades.”
Waitomo Caves, New Zealand
The caves of Waitomo in New Zealand offers a spectacular and unique experience. Here you can see the famous glowworms that light up the caves in a magical way. This cave is a must to visit when you are in New Zealand!
One of the most unique underground caves in the world! Another interesting place is the Waipu glow worm caves in the northern part of the country.
Skocjan Caves, Slovenia
These caves were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986 and have since then been visited frequently by tourists every year. Skocjan consists of a system of limestone caves, where some of them are more than 200 meters deep. Inside the cave, you can also see many beautiful waterfalls.
Wieliczka Salt Mine, Poland
The Wieliczka Salt Mine is located just outside Krakow and is today one of Poland’s most visited tourist attractions, with around 1.2 million visitors each year. The mine has been in operation since the 1200s and is today one of the world’s oldest salt mines.
Jeita Grotto, Lebanon
Jeita Grotto in Lebanon consists of two separate limestone caves that are interconnected in an “upper grotto” and a “lower grotto.” The upper cave is home to the world’s largest stalactite, and in the lower cave, you will find a beautiful lake.
Mulu Caves, Borneo
The Mulu Caves are located in Gunung Mulu National Park in Borneo and is one of Malaysia’s most visited attractions. Throughout the park, there are many caves located in a mountainous environment with equatorial rainforest. Sarawak chamber is located in one of the caves, and measures 700 x 396 meters and have a height of at least 70 meters.
The nearby Deer Cave is home to a huge colony of the bat species “Chaerephon Plicata.” Almost every night, you can see thousands of bats fly out of the cave in search of food.
Eisriesenwelt Cave, Austria
If you translate the name of the cave into English, it means the “Ice Giants World,” which is entirely understandable when you get to see Eisriesenwelt – the world’s largest ice cave. The cave is located inside Hochkogel Mountain in the Tennengebirge section of the Austrian Alps – and if you’re interested in exploring underground caves, then this one is a must!
Ali-Sadr Cave, Iran
Visit the world’s largest underground caves in water, in western Iran. Come and explore the Ali-Sadr cave from a pedalo, which is a great experience. Inside the cave, there are depictions dating back 12,000 years in time. The images suggest that the caves were used as a dwelling. An old inscription at the entrance of the cave verifies that Ali Sadr Cave was already known during the reign of Darius I’s reign 521-485 BC.
Reed Flute Cave, China
Reed Flute Cave is a natural limestone cave with multicolored lights and has been a popular tourist attraction for over 1200 years. This underground cave is located northwest of Guilin and is also known as “The Palace of Natural Arts.” The cave is full of stalactites, stalagmites and stone formations in unique shapes. Inside the Reed Flute Cave are more than 70 inscriptions in ink dating back to 792 AD
Do you have any tips on unique caves? Do not hesitate to share below in the comment section!