It’s important to be open-minded when discovering a new cave. They are known to hold many secrets, some accumulated through time, others evolving within it. You are as likely to find relics from past civilizations as you are some never-before-seen subterranean creature.
In this cave located in the Judean desert, explorers were shocked to discover more than they ever anticipated. More than secret lakes and rare minerals, this cave was home, in 1947, to the discovery of evidence of the coveted Dead Sea Scrolls. They were disheartened to find, too, that the scrolls themselves had been looted many years earlier. But other artifacts and scrolls remained. One of the manuscripts, written on papyrus and animal skin, contained texts dating back to the 4th century BC and the 2nd Century AD.
Stalagmites - The Other Natural Wonder
Stalagmites owe their existence to their twins from above: the stalactites. Their growth occurs gradually, from the ground up, built from the mineral-rich droppings off the stalactites on the ceiling. Stalactites and stalagmites are on a quest to meet each other from the moment the first drip drops. Over the passage of time and the layering of minerals, they move by infinitesimal fractions towards their twin.
Like stalactites, it takes many years for a stalagmite to develop. The longest stalagmite in existence can be found in the Doolin Cave in Claire, Ireland. It is said to project from the ground at around 21 feet high, which is about the length of George Washington’s nose... on Mount Rushmore that is.
Marvel at the Marble
Mother Nature surely outdone herself when she created the Marble Cave in Patagonia, Chile. This stunning natural Marble formation formed over 6,000 years from the waves of the Lake General Carrera that constantly washed against the solid stone.
The colors are absolutely natural as well, the various hues of blue occurred as a result of the lake’s azure waters, that indented patterns based on water levels at the time. There are three main marble formations: El Catedral (the Cathedral), La Capilla (the Chapel), and La Cueva (the Cave).
The Seasonal Treasure
The Skaftafell Ice Cave in Vatnajokull National Park in Iceland is a spectacular tunnel formation that can only be seen during the winter when temperatures are low enough for the glacial rivers to freeze; thus, the caves reform in different locations with new paths to explore each year.
You have to be flexible if you want to catch this sight, as the tour is highly dependent on conditions. But it's worth it. Being inside an Ice Cave provides visitors with the unparalleled opportunity tow capture blue light passing through glacier ice.
Neanderthals and Their World
A cave in France gives us a glimpse into the prehistoric world of the Neanderthals. In it, were found structures assembled by these archaic humans who lived for a bracket of time scientists estimate to span between 400,000 and 40,000 years ago.
These structures are composed of both stalactites and stalagmites that have been cut down to form a sort of a pyre, or room-sized ring. Some have been made to form effigy chambers, and other structures for seances or similar rituals. There are other assemblages in this cave that baffle scientists and explorers up to this day as to their purpose, but offer valuable clues regarding the culture of our ancient predecessors.