Most wonderful caves in the world 2016

Business Insider website has released a list of nine amazing caves, including Vietnam's Son Doong Cave.

 Son Doong Cave, Vietnam

Son Doong cave is located in Quang Binh province, Vietnam and is currently known as the largest cave in the world.  It is said that the cave was discovered in 1991 by a local man named Ho Khanh, but nobody dared to explore it until 2009, when the British cavers ventured inside. 

 Son Doong is 200 meters wide, 150 meters high, and about 9 kilometers long.  The beauty of this cave is enhanced by its vegetation, derived from the collapse of a roof in one of the caverns. The surreal landscapes convinced the BBC news that Hang Son Doong is one of the most fascinating caves in the world. And the pictures speak for themselves.

The entrance in Hang Son Doong cave is 10 kilometres (forest path) away from Truong Son Highway, and the nearest city is Dong Hoi (65 kilometres away). 

Mendenhall Ice Caves, Juneau, Alaska 

The Mendenhall is a glacier measuring more than a half mile wide in its widest point, and about 540 meters in its deepest.

Mendenhall Glacier has a  total length of 12 miles, extending between Juneau Icefield and Mendenhall Lake. Commercial operators offer tours in the summer, including hiking, biking, rafting, canoe and kayak trips, and bus, van, taxi and shuttle tours. Given the fact that the glacier`s melting process is severe, it is strongly recommend that visitors do not enter the caves during summer and that they wear proper equipment.

 Blue Grotto, Italy

The Blue Grotto, or Grotto Azzurra, is one of the top attractions in Capri, Italy. The stunning blue water of the cave was a favorite swimming destination of Roman emperor Tiberius, who decorated it with statues of the gods Poseidon and Triton.

 Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand

Waitomo region is part of the North Island of New Zealand, and it is exclusively known for its population of glowworms. They are known as Arachnocampa luminosa and their habitat is very well preserved (since they only exist in New Zealand) by a special Scientific Advisory Group.

Using high-tech tools, they determine the management of the cave environment by checking the air quality, temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide. And yes, that means that they decide how many people enter the caves every day.

 Cave of Swallows, Mexico
Sótano de las Golondrinas, or Cave of Swallows, is the largest pit cave in the world — an over 1,200-foot drop from top to bottom.

It's also home to thousands of birds, who spiral out of the cave's mouth each day at sunrise, a sight that is popular with tourists. The cave is also a hot spot for adventure-seekers, who BASE jump or rappel down the cave's walls.  

Fingal`s Cave, Scotland

The cave is placed on the uninhabitated island named Staffa, property of the National Trust for Scotland and is 72 feet tall and 270 feet deep.

The cave is also known as  An Uamh Binn, or The Cave of Melody, due to the harmonious sounds that you hear after you get closer.
 

Benagil Cave, Algarve, Portugal 

 

Giant Crystal Cave, Mexico

The spectacular Giant Crystal Cave is connected to the Naica Mine, located in Chihuahua, Mexico, 300 meters bellow the surface.  Its main chamber contains the largest selenite crystals ever found, some of them reaching 11 meters in length, 4 meters in diameter and about 55 tons in weight.