Best caves to visit: Top 17 Most Amazing Caves and Caverns in the USA

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21 апреля, 2023
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Top 17 Most Amazing Caves and Caverns in the USA

If you are into cave exploration or spelunking as part of your tourist adventure, here are some of the caves to visit in the United States.

From Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, which holds the title of the world’s largest cave system, to the Ruby Hall Haunted Cavern and the Halloween experience it offers all year round, we are going to learn about some of the best caves and caverns in the USA and help you decide which one you want to visit first.

These caverns contain some of the most beautiful landscapes and rock formations. These caves are a world of their own and are fascinating destinations for local and international tourists alike.

Let’s explore some of the incredible caves and caverns in the USA.

Best Caves and Caverns in the USA

Table of Contents [Show]

Affiliate links may be used in this post. I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link.

1: Mammoth Cave — Brownsville, KY

Flickr/Margaret River

Starting off our list is not just one of the most famous caves in the USA but one of the most famous in the world.

The appropriately named Mammoth Cave near Brownsville, Kentucky, is the longest cave system in the world, with 412 miles of wondrous limestone and sandstone formations.

Spanning across the counties of Edmonson, Barren, and Hart, the cave is part of the Mammoth Cave National Park, and the National Park Service supplies rangers to the site to provide some of the best cave tours in the US.

For cave tours, visit Grand Avenue, Frozen Niagara, and Fat Man’s Misery.

These can be seen on lighted tours and paraffin lamp tours. For those who are a little adventurous, choose the route where you can experience crawling in the mud and dusty tunnels. Finally, take a boat ride through the Echo River Tour along the underground river.

Any list like this may be subjective, but if you are grading by size, Mammoth Cave is certainly a candidate for one of the best caves in the USA.

Address: 1 Mammoth Cave Pkwy, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259

Website: www.nps.gov

2: Carlsbad Caverns — Carlsbad, NM

From Kentucky to New Mexico, our next stop is at the Carlsbad Caverns in Eddy County, New Mexico, near the border with Texas.

Be awed in beauty and wonder when you explore the deep rocky canyons, caverns, ancient sea ledges, thorny shrubs, and cacti of this cave tucked below the desert terrain. There are about 119 caves you can explore, which are formed with sulfuric acid and limestone.

You can explore the Big Room and Main Corridor with self-guided cave tours or explore the underground with ranger-guided tours like the Bell Cord Room, Bit Frost Room, Bat Cave, and the like. At night, you can see the exodus of the Brazilian free-tailed bats.

Address: 3225 National Parks Highway, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM

Website: www.nps.gov

3: Jewel Cave — Custer, SD

Wikimedia/Murray Foubister

Another famous cave is Jewel Cave near Custer in South Dakota, which ranks third in the list of longest caves in the world.

With more than 215 miles of passageways with sparkling calcites or crystals adorning its walls, you could get lost exploring the wonder of one of the best caves in America.

Perhaps some of the most impressive sights from Jewel Cave are the spar crystals for which it is named.

These crystals break into shapes with beautiful flat surfaces that are shiny and smooth, giving them the appearance of naturally appearing jewelry.

You can also explore some of the drapery formations in its caverns. Choose from among the cave tours being offered, mainly the Discovery Tour, Scenic Tour, Historic Lantern Tour, and Wild Caving Tour.

Address: Jewel Cave National Monument, Custer, SD 57730

Website: www.nps.gov

4: Niagara Cave — Harmony, MN

Flickr/Bruce Guenter

Situated in southeastern Minnesota, Niagara Cave is a naturally formed cave that boasts an array of unique features. Discovered in 1856 by a group of farmers, the cave has since become a popular tourist destination.

Measuring in at nearly a mile long, Niagara Cave is home to a variety of stalactites and stalagmites. The cave also features a 60-foot waterfall, which flows into an underground river.

Visitors can take guided tours of the cave, which last about an hour. During the tour, guests will learn about the history of the cave as well as see some of its most iconic features.

Address: 29842 Co Rd 30, Harmony, MN 55939

Website: www.niagaracave.com

5: Meramec Caverns — Stanton, MO

Flickr/Tydence Davis

The rich history of the Meramec Caverns alone designates it as one of the best caverns in the USA.

The cave stretches about 4.6 miles of limestone deposits created over a million years ago.

This is famous for its Native American settlers who used the caves as shelter. The cavern system attracts thousands of tourists because of its historical significance related to the Confederate war, the hideout of the infamous Jesse James, and the firming location of some known movies.

The site is an all-around experience with plenty to do within the caverns and above them, making it one of the most popular cave attractions in the United States.

Address: 1135 State Hwy W,
Sullivan, MO 63080

Website: www.americascave.com

6: Luray Caverns — Luray, VA

Flickr/Chad Holt

The Luray Caverns is undoubtedly one of the best caves and caverns in the USA due to their ornate natural decorations.

This was discovered in 1878, and its cavern system has teemed with columns, mudflows, stalagmites, stalactites, and mirrored pools. Explore the Great Stalacpipe Organ with its massive and solenoid fired strikers.

The caverns are yellow, brown, or red because of the mix of chemicals and minerals. The Giant’s Hall, Pluto’s Ghost, as well as some draperies are a sight to behold.

If you are visiting with a family with varied tastes, a Luray Caverns ticket will even get you through to a host of other attractions, including Toy Town Junction, the Shenandoah Heritage Village, and the Car & Carriage Caravan Museum.

Address: 101 Cave Hill Rd, Luray, VA 22835

Website: www.luraycaverns.com

7: Caverns of Sonora — Sonora, TX

The Caverns of Sonora are formed by 100 million years of cretaceous limestone. It boasts three-dimensional mazes, with each wall covered with crystals or sparkling speleothems that are intricately layered to form a beautiful maze.

Cave tours will take you to some enchanted areas with caverns, walls and ceilings lined with corals, soda straws, stalagmites, and coral trees.

While visiting, make sure to bring the appropriate clothing because not only does the temperature of the caverns sit in the 70s Fahrenheit, but the almost 100% humidity makes it feel like 80-degree temperatures.

Address: 1711 Private Road, Sonora, TX 76950

Website: www.cavernsofsonora.com

8: Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern — Chattanooga, TN

Flickr/Craig Walenta

Ruby Falls at Chattanooga, Tennessee, might have a romantic history in that it was named after the wife of the man who discovered it, but the Haunted Cavern brings an experience far from romantic.

This is for the brave who can descend 26 stories underground to explore the caverns deep within.

Ruby Falls is a 145-foot-high underground waterfall that is formed by a large vertical shaft. You can see the stream that is fed by both rainwater and natural springs as it collects into a pool on the cave floor.

From haunts to escape rooms, the Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern is not just a geological exploration but a whole experience, harnessing the natural dread of being underground with all the tropes from horror movies that would reflect an attraction on Halloween or outside of it.

If you are looking for something a little different, Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern is one of the most unique caves in the United States.

Address: 1720 South Scenic Highway, Chattanooga, TN 37409

Website: www.hauntedcavern.com

9: Ape Cave — Cougar, Washington

Flickr/Abhinaba Basu

If you have been disappointed by the show caves that have been dominating the list so far, Ape Cave near Cougar, Washington, offers some of the best spelunking in the US.

Ape Cave was only explored for the first time in the 1950s, and it is similarly young in its formation. It owes its origins to the infamous Mount St. Helens, which sent lava down the path only two millennia ago, creating a natural tunnel as it cooled and hardened.

If you like blazing your own trail and are not interested in guided tours, Ape Cave should be one of the mandatory attractions on your list. Just keep in mind that despite that, the cave is not open all year round, and reservations are nonetheless needed.

Address: Cougar, WA 98616

10: Moaning Cavern — Vallecito, CA

Flickr/highlander411

Although Moaning Cavern has been visited by people for thousands of years, it was rediscovered and brought back into prominence in the mid-19th century by prospectors looking for gold.

Although no gold was found, the stunning beauty of the cave could not be ignored, and it continues to be an attraction today.

The moaning cave is located at the bottom of a spacious vertical shaft at 165 feet tall; you continue descending the 100-foot spiral staircase until you reach the cavern at around 410 feet in depth.

Here, you can explore the oldest human remains of prehistoric people in the Americas. The cave has been a resting place for people who fell in its opening; thus, named as «moaning cave».

Moaning Cavern is also welcoming to spelunkers, making it a great choice for visitors looking for a bit of adventure or simply not wanting to be bound by the restrictions of a guided tour. However, if you prefer a tour, do not worry – you will also find them on offer.

Address: 5350 Moaning Cave Rd,
Vallecito, CA 95251

Website: www.caverntours.com

11: Antelope Canyon — Page, Arizona

Dreamstime/Minyun Zhou

Although there has always been controversy over whether slot canyons – those with an exceptionally lopsided depth-to-width ratio – like the ones at Antelope Canyon can truly be classified as caves or caverns, no one can deny the beauty of this Arizona attraction.

The canyon was formed over millions of years by the erosion of sandstone and other rocks. Wind and water have carved out a series of narrow, twisting canyons that are a photographer’s paradise.

The light at Antelope Canyon is ever-changing, and creates an otherworldly atmosphere that is unlike anywhere else on earth. If you’re looking for an amazing place to take some photos, Antelope Canyon is definitely worth a visit.

Address: 22 S Lake Powell Blvd, Page, AZ 86040

12: Lava River Cave — Bend, Oregon

Flickr/USFS

Lava River Cave in Deschutes County, Oregon, is not named for the poetry alone. The cave is shaped so perfectly, like a tunnel, because it used to be a channel through which lava flowed.

As the lava on top cooled to form the roof of the cave and the rest of it flowed out, the distinctive and almost-too-perfect cave was formed.

The Lava River Cave sits within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, operated by the United States Forest Service.

This allows visitors to the site to pay a humble $5 per vehicle for access and enjoy all of the other stunning sights around the cave in addition to it.

Address: Bend, OR 97707

13: Lost Sea Caverns — Sweetwater, Tennessee

Dreamstime/Tony Bosse

The Lost Sea Caverns, also known as the Craighead Caverns, easily rank as one of the best caves in America.

Located in Monroe County, Tennessee, the site is most famous for its greatest attraction, the largest underground lake in the US.

Not only does the guided tour take you down deep into the caverns along steep and mystical paths, but when you get to the Lost Sea itself, you will get to enjoy a boat ride on it, during which you can marvel at the features that appear to grow like crystal flowers along the cave walls.

If you are more interested in history than geology, you can walk through the same paths that Confederate military miners, mushroom farmers, moonshiners, and ancient jaguar tracks.

Address: 140 Lost Sea Rd, Sweetwater, TN 37874

14: Blanchard Springs Caverns — Stone County, Arkansas

Flickr/GPA Photo Archive

The Blanchard Springs Caverns are located in Stone County, Arkansas, as part of the Ozark National Forest. Under the stewardship of the Forest Service, three guided tours are offered — each with a slightly different twist.

The Dripstone Trail is the beginner’s option but no less of an experience, taking you less than half a mile through passages hosting all sorts of cave critters, including the famous salamanders.

The Discovery Trail picks up the complexity and increases the intensity, giving the fitter and more adventurous visitors a deeper look into the lower parts of the caverns.

Finally, the Wild Cave Tour lasts the longest at three to four hours and is for the true cave aficionados and includes plenty of crawling through less developed parts of the caverns.

Address: 704 Blanchard Springs Road, Fifty-Six, AR 72533

15: Kartchner Caverns State Park — Benson, Arizona

If you like bats, the Kartchner Caverns State Park in Cochise County, Arizona, is a must-see, with the cave hosting a colony of myotis velifer, or as they are called, colloquially the common cave bat.

Just be sure to avoid coming in the winter, when the bats hibernate at another location and cannot be spotted from the caverns.

Arizona State Parks operates four different tours. The two standard cave tours go through other parts of the cave, with the Rotunda/Throne Tour being only partially underground and the Big Room Tour as well, but going a bit deeper.

The Helmet and Headlamp Tour lets visitors go through an authentic experience, mimicking the adventures of decades gone by, while once-a-month the Photo Tours are offered, taking place on the third Saturday of each month.

Address: 2980 AZ-90, Benson, AZ 85602

16: Fantastic Caverns — Springfield, Missouri

The Fantastic Caverns, just to the northwest of Springfield, Missouri, boast many wonders, but one of the most notable is the site’s status as the only cave in America where the tour is carried out entirely on a tram being towed by a motorized vehicle, in this case, a Jeep.

The cave also has a rich and unique history. Unlike most caves in the region, it was not used to mine saltpeter for the war effort during the Civil War by either side, not because it was unsuitable, but because the man who discovered it did not let anyone know until after the war ended.

Address: 4872 N Farm Rd 125, Springfield, MO 65803

17: Kazumura Cave – Hawaii

Dave Bunnell / Under Earth Images

Our list of the best caves in the USA concludes with Kazumura Cave on the island of Hawaii.

Kazumura Cave is one of the world’s longest lava tubes. It is also one of the deepest, with a depth of over 1,000 feet. The cave is located on the island of Hawaii, and is a popular tourist destination.

The Kazumura Cave was formed by lava flow from the Kilauea volcano. The lava flow cooled and solidified on the surface, but continued to flow beneath the surface. As the lava cooled, it formed a system of tunnels and chambers.

The Kazumura Cave is home to a variety of native Hawaiian animals, including bats and spiders. The cave is also home to a number of rare plants that are found nowhere else in the world.

Address: Volcano, HI 96785

Final Words on the Best Caves and Caverns in the USA

Maybe you are already an aficionado of caves in the USA, or perhaps you are just now beginning your journey with this list, but either way, we have learned today about the best caves in America and the kinds of features that make them memorable, special, or just plain interesting. With everything on offer, which one of these incredible locations will be the first stop on your trip?

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1: What is the biggest cave in the USA?

Mammoth Cave consists of over 400 miles of passageways, making it not just the biggest cave in the United States but also the biggest cave in the entire world, truly earning its name.

2: What is the prettiest cave in the United States?

Jewel Cave in South Dakota is the prettiest cave in the United States, with the ornate natural crystals giving it its name, making visitors feel like they are in an opulent fairy tale.

3: What are the secret caves in the USA?

Lechuguilla Cave in New Mexico still includes little caves and passageways that have not been explored or mapped, meaning that if you visit and explore far enough, you might set foot somewhere that no human before you ever has.

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Top 17 Most Amazing Caves and Caverns in the USA

If you are into cave exploration or spelunking as part of your tourist adventure, here are some of the caves to visit in the United States.

These caverns contain some of the most beautiful landscapes and rock formations. These caves are a world of their own and are fascinating destinations for local and international tourists alike.

Let’s explore some of the incredible caves and caverns in the USA.

Best Caves and Caverns in the USA

Table of Contents [Show]

Affiliate links may be used in this post. I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you if you use my affiliate link.

1: Mammoth Cave — Brownsville, KY

Flickr/Margaret River

Starting off our list is not just one of the most famous caves in the USA but one of the most famous in the world.

The appropriately named Mammoth Cave near Brownsville, Kentucky, is the longest cave system in the world, with 412 miles of wondrous limestone and sandstone formations.

For cave tours, visit Grand Avenue, Frozen Niagara, and Fat Man’s Misery.

Any list like this may be subjective, but if you are grading by size, Mammoth Cave is certainly a candidate for one of the best caves in the USA.

Address: 1 Mammoth Cave Pkwy, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259

Website: www.nps.gov

2: Carlsbad Caverns — Carlsbad, NM

From Kentucky to New Mexico, our next stop is at the Carlsbad Caverns in Eddy County, New Mexico, near the border with Texas.

Address: 3225 National Parks Highway, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NM

Website: www.nps.gov

3: Jewel Cave — Custer, SD

Wikimedia/Murray Foubister

Another famous cave is Jewel Cave near Custer in South Dakota, which ranks third in the list of longest caves in the world.

With more than 215 miles of passageways with sparkling calcites or crystals adorning its walls, you could get lost exploring the wonder of one of the best caves in America.

Perhaps some of the most impressive sights from Jewel Cave are the spar crystals for which it is named.

These crystals break into shapes with beautiful flat surfaces that are shiny and smooth, giving them the appearance of naturally appearing jewelry.

Address: Jewel Cave National Monument, Custer, SD 57730

Website: www.nps.gov

4: Niagara Cave — Harmony, MN

Flickr/Bruce Guenter

Measuring in at nearly a mile long, Niagara Cave is home to a variety of stalactites and stalagmites. The cave also features a 60-foot waterfall, which flows into an underground river.

Visitors can take guided tours of the cave, which last about an hour. During the tour, guests will learn about the history of the cave as well as see some of its most iconic features.

Address: 29842 Co Rd 30, Harmony, MN 55939

Website: www.niagaracave.com

5: Meramec Caverns — Stanton, MO

Flickr/Tydence Davis

The rich history of the Meramec Caverns alone designates it as one of the best caverns in the USA.

The cave stretches about 4.6 miles of limestone deposits created over a million years ago.

The site is an all-around experience with plenty to do within the caverns and above them, making it one of the most popular cave attractions in the United States.

Address: 1135 State Hwy W,
Sullivan, MO 63080

Website: www.americascave.com

6: Luray Caverns — Luray, VA

Flickr/Chad Holt

The Luray Caverns is undoubtedly one of the best caves and caverns in the USA due to their ornate natural decorations.

The caverns are yellow, brown, or red because of the mix of chemicals and minerals. The Giant’s Hall, Pluto’s Ghost, as well as some draperies are a sight to behold.

Address: 101 Cave Hill Rd, Luray, VA 22835

Website: www.luraycaverns.com

7: Caverns of Sonora — Sonora, TX

Cave tours will take you to some enchanted areas with caverns, walls and ceilings lined with corals, soda straws, stalagmites, and coral trees.

Address: 1711 Private Road, Sonora, TX 76950

Website: www.cavernsofsonora.com

8: Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern — Chattanooga, TN

Flickr/Craig Walenta

Ruby Falls at Chattanooga, Tennessee, might have a romantic history in that it was named after the wife of the man who discovered it, but the Haunted Cavern brings an experience far from romantic.

This is for the brave who can descend 26 stories underground to explore the caverns deep within.

If you are looking for something a little different, Ruby Falls Haunted Cavern is one of the most unique caves in the United States.

Address: 1720 South Scenic Highway, Chattanooga, TN 37409

Website: www.hauntedcavern.com

9: Ape Cave — Cougar, Washington

Flickr/Abhinaba Basu

If you have been disappointed by the show caves that have been dominating the list so far, Ape Cave near Cougar, Washington, offers some of the best spelunking in the US.

Address: Cougar, WA 98616

10: Moaning Cavern — Vallecito, CA

Flickr/highlander411

Although Moaning Cavern has been visited by people for thousands of years, it was rediscovered and brought back into prominence in the mid-19th century by prospectors looking for gold.

Although no gold was found, the stunning beauty of the cave could not be ignored, and it continues to be an attraction today.

The moaning cave is located at the bottom of a spacious vertical shaft at 165 feet tall; you continue descending the 100-foot spiral staircase until you reach the cavern at around 410 feet in depth.

Here, you can explore the oldest human remains of prehistoric people in the Americas. The cave has been a resting place for people who fell in its opening; thus, named as «moaning cave».

Address: 5350 Moaning Cave Rd,
Vallecito, CA 95251

Website: www.caverntours.com

11: Antelope Canyon — Page, Arizona

Dreamstime/Minyun Zhou

The canyon was formed over millions of years by the erosion of sandstone and other rocks. Wind and water have carved out a series of narrow, twisting canyons that are a photographer’s paradise.

Address: 22 S Lake Powell Blvd, Page, AZ 86040

12: Lava River Cave — Bend, Oregon

Flickr/USFS

Lava River Cave in Deschutes County, Oregon, is not named for the poetry alone. The cave is shaped so perfectly, like a tunnel, because it used to be a channel through which lava flowed.

As the lava on top cooled to form the roof of the cave and the rest of it flowed out, the distinctive and almost-too-perfect cave was formed.

The Lava River Cave sits within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument, operated by the United States Forest Service.

This allows visitors to the site to pay a humble $5 per vehicle for access and enjoy all of the other stunning sights around the cave in addition to it.

Address: Bend, OR 97707

13: Lost Sea Caverns — Sweetwater, Tennessee

Dreamstime/Tony Bosse

The Lost Sea Caverns, also known as the Craighead Caverns, easily rank as one of the best caves in America.

Located in Monroe County, Tennessee, the site is most famous for its greatest attraction, the largest underground lake in the US.

If you are more interested in history than geology, you can walk through the same paths that Confederate military miners, mushroom farmers, moonshiners, and ancient jaguar tracks.

Address: 140 Lost Sea Rd, Sweetwater, TN 37874

14: Blanchard Springs Caverns — Stone County, Arkansas

Flickr/GPA Photo Archive

The Dripstone Trail is the beginner’s option but no less of an experience, taking you less than half a mile through passages hosting all sorts of cave critters, including the famous salamanders.

The Discovery Trail picks up the complexity and increases the intensity, giving the fitter and more adventurous visitors a deeper look into the lower parts of the caverns.

Finally, the Wild Cave Tour lasts the longest at three to four hours and is for the true cave aficionados and includes plenty of crawling through less developed parts of the caverns.

Address: 704 Blanchard Springs Road, Fifty-Six, AR 72533

15: Kartchner Caverns State Park — Benson, Arizona

Just be sure to avoid coming in the winter, when the bats hibernate at another location and cannot be spotted from the caverns.

Address: 2980 AZ-90, Benson, AZ 85602

16: Fantastic Caverns — Springfield, Missouri

Address: 4872 N Farm Rd 125, Springfield, MO 65803

17: Kazumura Cave – Hawaii

Dave Bunnell / Under Earth Images

Our list of the best caves in the USA concludes with Kazumura Cave on the island of Hawaii.

The Kazumura Cave is home to a variety of native Hawaiian animals, including bats and spiders. The cave is also home to a number of rare plants that are found nowhere else in the world.

Address: Volcano, HI 96785

Final Words on the Best Caves and Caverns in the USA

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1: What is the biggest cave in the USA?

Mammoth Cave consists of over 400 miles of passageways, making it not just the biggest cave in the United States but also the biggest cave in the entire world, truly earning its name.

2: What is the prettiest cave in the United States?

Jewel Cave in South Dakota is the prettiest cave in the United States, with the ornate natural crystals giving it its name, making visitors feel like they are in an opulent fairy tale.

3: What are the secret caves in the USA?

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Son Doong Cave (Vietnam)

Son Doong Cave (Sơn Đoòng cave) is the largest cave in the world. It is located in Central Vietnam, in the province of Quang Binh. This is one of the most inaccessible grottoes in the world, so no more than 500 people visit it every year. Inside, tourists can see an incredible world — stalagmites resembling cacti in their shape, huge cave pearls and other unusual formations. A river flows in the Shondong cave, and due to a collapse in the arch, sunlight penetrates here, so a special microclimate has formed here and real forests have grown.

Tourists can camp and spend a few nights under the stars, sail the underground river and explore the vast cave valleys.

Vatnajokull Glacier Caves (Iceland)

Vatnajokull Glacier Caves are one of the largest caves in Europe. They delight with their beauty, fascinate with their blue color and relief of ice. You can see them only in winter — from November to March. These amazing ice caves form during the colder months when temperatures drop and the glacier waters stop melting after the heat of the summer.

In autumn, before the start of the season, guides go in search of newly formed caves that are large enough and safe for tourists to explore. Their visit is possible only with a guide and with special equipment — at the beginning of the tour they give out a protective helmet and crampons for walking on the ice.

Cave and Basin (Canada)

The Cave and Basin is a National Historic Site of Canada near Banff. It is located on the slope of the Sulfur Mountain and consists of nine hot springs with sulfuric water located at different levels. On the lowest of them is the only cave with a pool. This is a beautiful and unusual place with a fascinating history.

Tourists should be prepared for the peculiar smell emitted by the hot springs and the ban on swimming. The fact is that endangered snails (Physella johnsoni), which are protected by Canadian law, live here. Bathing in hot springs harms their eggs, so violators face a fine of $ 75,000 or one year in prison.

Phraya Nakhon Cave (Thailand)

Phraya Nakhon Cave is considered one of the most beautiful sights in Thailand. It is located in the province of Prachuap Khiri Khan and is part of the Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park. To get to it, you will have to take a boat trip, and then walk up the mountain and climb steep steps. But the effort is worth what you see. Phraya Nakhon is one of several caves inside the mountain with a naturally collapsed vault. Sunlight penetrates through it, which illuminates the small temple built here. This spectacle is mesmerizing and evokes a lot of emotions. The cave is very beautiful — with multiple stalagmites and stalactites, as well as lush groves growing here.

Ajanta Caves (India)

Ajanta Caves is one of India’s top religious sites. This is a unique cave complex of 30 Buddhist temples and monasteries carved into a horseshoe-shaped cliff. It is located in the Indian state of Maharashtra, 450 km east of Mumbai. Inside you can see the rich decoration — rock sculptures and paintings, which are considered a masterpiece of Buddhist religious art. They depict the past lives and reincarnations of the Buddha, as well as other Buddhist deities, animals, jewelry, scenes from the Kama Sutra, and more. Archaeologists suggest that in ancient India, these caves served as a refuge for monks during the rainy season, as well as a resting place for merchants and pilgrims.

Pak Ou Caves (Laos)

Pak Ou Caves is a cave monastery on the banks of the Mekong River, located near the city of Luang Prabang. It consists of two caves filled with thousands of wooden Buddha sculptures. Small images of the deity, only a few centimeters high, are placed on special shelves and show him in various poses — lying, meditating, preaching, in nirvana and others. For centuries, Pak Ou served as a place of worship — people believed that the spirits of the river near which they were living lived here.

Vendors sell flowers, incense sticks and candles in front of the entrance to the caves as a sign of respect for Buddha images. Tourists should be aware that the second cave is dark, so it makes sense to bring a flashlight with you or rent one at the entrance.

Frasassi Caves (Italy)

Frasassi Caves is one of the famous and largest karst cave systems in Europe. It was opened at 1971 and immediately gained great popularity due to the huge number of unusual stalactites and stalagmites. These formations look especially bizarre thanks to specially selected lighting. The Frasassi caves include several chambers. The most interesting of them are the «Bat Cave», the name of which speaks for itself, the «Candle Room», which has many stalagmites resembling candles, and the «Great Wind Cave» 13 km long, which became popular after the reality show, whose participants in she lived.

Batu Caves (Malaysia)

Batu Caves, located 13 km from Kuala Lumpur, is one of Malaysia’s most popular attractions. This is a sacred place for believers and a famous Hindu shrine outside of India. It is dedicated to Murugan, the god of war. It was his huge statue (43 meters) that was installed at the foot of the mountain. More than 270 multi-colored steps lead to the caves, along which nimble monkeys scurry. They tend to steal things, so don’t wear shiny items or jewelry. In addition, do not try to stroke them — animals react aggressively.

After overcoming these minor obstacles, tourists enter the Temple Cave, the largest of the three large and seven small Batu caves. They contain shrines, statues and paintings dedicated to Hindu mythology. Inside you can see multimillion-dollar formations — stalactites and stalagmites, and in several caves there are collapses in the vault through which you can see the blue sky.

Thaipusam, a Tamil Hindu festival, has been held here since 1892. Within its framework, rituals are performed that are prohibited in India. For example, some believers inflict wounds on themselves, pierce the body with fishhooks and fall into a trance. 9Ol000

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The scientific side of the issue

Speleology is a science that studies caves. After all, caves are not just dark tunnels underground; thanks to them, you can explore the geology of the planet and the history of the peoples of the world, find various rocks and minerals. The work of a speleologist is a difficult and dangerous job. The physical conditions in the caves can safely be called extreme: the temperature rarely rises above 6 degrees, and the humidity reaches 100%. In such conditions, cotton fabrics rot in just a month.

Cave explorers have to deal with many natural obstacles: wells, labyrinths, narrow passages, underground rivers and airless tunnels between the water surface and vaults. In fact, cavers are the same climbers, only locked underground.

The mysterious world of caves

There are psychological factors involved in working as a speleologist. In the caves, the concept of day and night is lost, and this adversely affects the biorhythms of the body. In conditions of a closed space torn off from the world, a person may develop claustrophobia, fear of the dark and other phobias. In addition, the lack of connection with the surface “presses” on the brain; in case of any incident in the cave, help can be expected for a long time.

However, the dangers of cave travel pale in comparison to their beauty. You can verify this by seeing the 6 most beautiful and unusual caves in the world.

6 most amazing caves in the world

Krubera Cave (Abkhazia)

When you look at the pictures of the Krubera Cave, your head starts to spin, and this is not surprising, because it is considered the deepest in the world! In total, its depth is 2200 meters, the highest plumb line is 152 meters.

Mountain River Cave (Vietnam)

The scale of this cave is truly impressive: the height of its largest hall reaches 240 meters. It could fit several 40-story skyscrapers. It is surprising that for a long time no one knew about this hulk — a farmer accidentally discovered the Cave of a mountain river in 1991.

Cave of Crystals (Mexico)

One can live without suspecting that such beauty is very close by. So, this miracle of nature is located at a depth of 300 meters under the city of Nike. The giant crystals are made of selenite, a type of gypsum. The cave attracts not only with its beauty, but also with danger: it is very hot in it (54 degrees at 100% humidity) and you cannot stay here for more than 20 minutes without special equipment.

Waitomo Gloveworm Cave (New Zealand)

Thanks to the amazing fireflies that live only in New Zealand, the cave looks like a starry sky.

Phraya Nakhon Cave (Thailand)

Photographs of Phraya Nakhon Cave are more reminiscent of footage from Indiana Jones. Huge vaults surround a small temple and a small forest of trees. He is drawn to the light, which penetrates here only at certain hours.

Marble Caves of Patagonia (Chile)

Blue walls with intricate patterns and fabulous turquoise water make this cave look like a fashion designer has done. It seems that it is made of marble, but it is ordinary limestone, which has been grinded by sea waves for thousands of years.

What you need to know when going to the cave:

Route

Caves are different. In some of them, people can come without special equipment. Such caves are easy to find in popular resorts — for example, in the Crimea or Thailand. More difficult routes require special training from the tourist (climbing and mountaineering skills, diving and swimming), as well as special equipment. Let’s talk about the latter in more detail.

Plan your route

Equipment

Special clothing and footwear are required, as well as helmets. Ropes and safety systems will come in handy. If there is water in the cave, you need to take scuba gear. And, of course, do not forget about flashlights and chargers for them.

Safety regulations

Even experienced cavers should not go hiking alone.