Cueva de Arpea in Spanish, or Caverne d’harpea in French, however, you chose to call it you can’t help but admire this intriguing natural formation. The cave system was formed under the twisted layers of rock in the Aezkoa valley on the Franco-Spanish border and is believed to have been used as a refuge by ancient shepherds since old times.
These unique formations and surrounding greenery are a must-see for adventure seekers and cave enthusiasts.
Experience the Ice Age in Eisriesenwelt
The Eisriesenwelt Ice Cave in Werfen, Austria is one of the most majestic caves you'll ever set your eyes on. Extending 42 kilometers into the earth, this limestone ice cave is the largest of its kind, it's no wonder it welcomes 200,000 tourists every year. The oldest layer of ice in the cave walls dates back as far as 1,000 years! Though this cave is huge, only the first kilometer of it is frozen and open to tourists. The rest of the cave consists mainly of limestone.
The ice formations were created from melted snow water that drained into the cave and froze. The structures remain icy even in the summer because the cave entrance is always open, leaving it exposed to the cold wind that keeps the temperature below freezing. In fact, new ice formations appear each spring, but as the water drips into the cave it freezes.
You'll Think it's Photoshopped
The Antelope Canyon of Arizona formed out of the erosion of sandstone from rainwater and flash flooding, is truly awe-inspiring and if you don't see it for yourself you'll be fooled that it's photoshopped . The Antelope Canyon includes two different, but equally amazing slot canyon sections referred to as "Upper Antelope Canyon" and "Lower Antelope Canyon" or "The Crack" and "The Corkscrew" respectively.
Both are in the LeChee Chapter of the native Navajo Nation. The canyons aren't open to the public and are accessible by guided tours only.
The Blue Gym of Capri
This Blue Grotto is a sea cave located off the coast of the island of Capri, in southern Italy. As its name implies, it's famous for its brilliant shades of blue. As sunlight, passes through the huge underwater cavity, shining through the water, it creates a beautiful turquoise reflection that illuminates the cave. So it's not surprising that it attracts millions of visitors from the area and from around the globe alike.
Hopefully you know how to float if you get visit this treasure island, as you'll need to lie on your back in order to cross through the cave's opening, which is no more than a meter tall.
Ancient life in a Strange Cave
Scientists have discovered a new range in Naica, Mexico in which life itself can subsist. Unlike the habitats of many other caves and subterranean areas, where bacterial colonies grow on mossy walls and soil with little or no sunlight at all, scientists discovered that the microbes in Naica have been embedded within giant crystals. By and large, what they found here were single-celled bacteria.
They estimate that life has been flourishing here, in these strange conditions, for around 50,000 years. What’s more, this form of bacteria feeds itself by digesting minerals like iron and magnesium, which are abundant within the crystal formations. Now, the scientists have moved their focus to figure out just how life is able to thrive in such an extreme habitat.