Amazing Caves That Lurk Below

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The most amazing & unique Caves are found lurking below.
Caves & Caverns are our chance to lurk below and explore planet earth. From The Cave of the Crystals to the Batu Caves, here are 17 grotto’s you need to see to believe

#17 Kartchner Caverns.
This Southwest American cave system/ has got it all: oodles of intriguing passages and soda straw stalactites, as well as a healthy population of bats/ and other cave-dwellers.

#16 Surprise Cave.
Surprise! Vietnam has one of the coolest caves on the planet. Located on Bo Hòn Island, Surprise Cave is part of the stunning Halong Bay complex, and a bonafide UNESCO World Heritage Site.

#15 Mammoth Cave.
Mammoth Cave National Park is the largest cave system/ on the planet, sprawling out over a whopping five hundred twenty-eight square kilometers. Anyone can take on this monster, but be warned/ that some of the passages aren’t for the faint of heart.

# 14 Catedral de Sal
Unlike many of the others on this list, the Catedral de Sal is a human-made wonder set in a system of caves in Zipaquira, Colombia. Just north of Bogota, this mining town is home to an astonishing wonder of modern architecture, nestled deep inside of an old salt cave.

#13 Stephen’s Gap.
The southern United States certainly has its fair share of jaw-dropping caves and caverns, but Stephen’s Gap is in a bone-chilling league all of its own. Why? You drop down into the gaping maw of Stephen’s Gap through a small hole at the top, repelling one hundred and forty-three feet down slippery rocks/ to the base of the cave.

#12 Tadrart Acacus Desert Cave.
There’s more to Algeria’s Tadrart Acacus Desert Cave than meets the eye. This system was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site/ because of its phenomenal ancient rock art.

#11 Carlsbad Caverns.
These limestone caves/ are etched deep in the Guadalupe Mountains of New Mexico/ and are one of the most popular tourist attractions/ in the United States. The limestone/ is what makes it special, and gives Carlsbad its otherworldly glow.

#10 Cenote Ik Kil.
Mexico is famous for its cenotes: brilliant roofless caves/ full of sparkling, clear water. They’re a godsend for divers and daredevils/ who love to explore the watery reaches of the cave system/ through warm azure waters. Cenote Ik Kil is one of the most fabulous cenotes in the world, but it has a dark side..

#9 Puerto Princesa Subterranean River.
The Philippines is home/ to a phenomenal underground river/ that was recently designated as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River/ is a geological marvel/ and a bio-diverse haven for all sorts of marine creatures/ who’ve found solace in the river/ and the cave systems around it.

#8 Fingal’s Cave.
Scotland’s enigmatic island of Staffa is home to one of the most spectacular sea caves in the world: Fingal’s Cave. Forged of volcanic rock, and polished into a natural wonder by the mighty Atlantic, Fingal’s Cave is an explorer’s dream.

#7 Batu Caves.
Half temple, half cave system, all fantastic: the Batu Caves in Malaysia/ are a colorful tribute to the Hindu pantheon/ set deep in a limestone cave system.

#6: Waitomo Glowworm Caves.
New Zealand’s most eccentric and luminous cave has got to be Waitomo. This cavern system/ is jam packed with millions of glow worms/ that light up the rooms with an ethereal and/ strangely alluring light.

#5 The Blue Grotto.
Capri’s Blue Grotto/ is one of the prettiest lil sea caves/ that you are likely to see, and it's deep, clear blue hue/ draws tourists from all over the planet. Inside, radiant blue/ lights up the whole cavern, and only a tiny slice of light is visible from the outside.

#4 Reed Flute Cave.
This ancient cave/ is one hundred and eighty million years old/ and is home to some incredible prehistoric cave art. Located in Guilin, China, Reed Flute Cave/ got its nickname “The Palace of Natural Arts” from its crazy artistic rock formations/ and galaxy of different colors.

#3 Badami Caves.
These caves are a masterpiece of Indian Badami Chalukya architecture: Hindu and Jain temples/ etched deep into the rock itself.

#2 Qumran Cave.
This cave/ is the most historically significant on our list, and a geological masterpiece in its own right. Qumran Cave/ is located smack dab in the West Bank/ and was the home of the famous Dead Sea Scrolls: ancient Jewish texts of incredible historical importance.

# 1: The Cave of the Crystals.
This Mexican cave/ would make Superman jealous/ with its massive outgrowths of crystal formations. It’s a super-subterranean cave, located underneath the similarly named/ Cave of Swords, where the crystals were only a mere seven feet long.