Movile isn’t the only poisonous cave Constanta has to offer. In fact, it is home to many such caves that are extremely dangerous and require careful planning and safety equipment to explore. Some scientists, of course, are willing to try their luck. One of the most intense caves they’ve uncovered requires climbers to drop down into its depths where the oxygen level of the atmosphere is reduced by half.
Once the descent has been made, wading through its poisonous waters adds an extra layer of danger to its already hostile environment. Being fitted with a breathing apparatus is essential. Otherwise, adventurers would quickly develop a headache, become hypoxic, and die on the spot. This cave is home to numerous species that scientists are dying to study.
See Art of Ancient Settlers
Niah Cave is one of the largest limestone caves in the world, and is of major historical significant as it hold the drawings dating as back as 40,000 years ago. Archaeologists and historians believe that its inhabitants were among the earliest settlers in eastern Malaysia.
The caves are also a popular tourist destination the birds' nest industry, as all the birds that roost in the caves are privately owned and the owner has the right to collect the nests. Collection is usually done in January and in June.
Caves Filled With Poison
While they may be dark and alien to us surface-dwellers, caves can be inviting. Some are even made tourist attractions by governments, with a range of activities designed to appeal to professional spelunkers and day-trippers alike. But don’t count Movile Cave in. If you dare to enter this cave, located in Constanta, it could quite possibly be the last site you ever visit in your life, with all the danger it poses.
As folklore would have it, vampires, ghosts, and ghouls aren’t the only things to fear in Romania. Constanta, which is located near the Black Sea, has many “poisonous caves,” named for the deadly creatures that crawl through their depths. Centipedes, spiders, scorpions: Movile Cave has them all. Traversing its narrow limestone tunnels will eventually lead you to a cavernous opening in which you will find a lake. If you’re picturing the kind of pristine waterways we humans love to relax by on the surface, think again. Movile’s lake gives off the rotten egg smell of sulfur, and the atmosphere in its amphitheater is thick with a variety of gases. Disturbing the tranquility of its surface with a skipped rock would cause it to emit poisonous hydrogen sulfide. So maybe leave it off your list of lakes to visit!
Caves Filled With Poison: Part III
The stories that emerge from these poisonous caves are astonishing but few and far between. If scientists were able to examine the caves more regularly (and safely) they’d certainly be able to come up with scientific reports that read more like works of science fiction. One line of inquiry they’re currently working on is how bacteria are able to subsist in ecology that offers no oxygen at all.
To adapt, they have developed a way to break down the chemicals in the air. They function similarly to plants in taking in carbon dioxide. Some bacteria break down sulfur into sulfur oxide. Strangely enough, this increasing presence of sulfuric acid eats out the surrounding limestone, allowing the cave to expand its size even further.
See Rare Formations in Lechuguilla Cave
Lechuguilla Cave, located in New Mexico is by far the most special cave in the world. Interestingly, up until 1986, it was considered a rather small and insignificant cave; however, recent exploration proved it to be otherwise, as the discovery of its massive chambers along with some of the rarest formations ever seen.
At 138.3 miles (222.6 km) is actually the longest limestone cavern in the United States. Lechuguilla is named for the canyon it goes through, which is named after Agave lechuguilla, which is a species of plant found there. Access to the cave is limited due to scientific research constantly taking place there.