Any person without the proper protective gear would not last more than thirty minutes inside the Cave of Crystals in Naica, Mexico. The atmosphere within its expanse is around 118 degrees Fahrenheit, with a 90% humidity, so the temperature would drop even the hardiest of humans in a snap. We’ve shown you earlier how researchers remain perplexed at the persistence of life within the crystals themselves, which are estimated to be around 50 million years old.
These crystals have the appearance of huge, luminous bars that have been struck into the land. Some are around 36 feet long, weighing about 55 tons. Once you step inside the cave, these crystals tower over you, and they are formidable, to say the least.
Surround Yourself With Ice
This icy sanctuary near the Mutnovsky Volcano in Russia is a fascinating cave system formed in the glaciers surrounding area by fumaroles, which are small vents that release gases and volcanic heat. The volcano's last eruption occurred in 2000.
If you happen to visit the cave at the right time you'll witness the sunlight penetrating the frozen cave walls, painting them in all colors of the rainbow.
Fish With a Secret Messaging System
One of the most remarkable things about nature’s creations is their ability to adapt to all types of environment, even the most harsh and hostile subterranean territory where sunlight is ever-absent. Furthermore, many creatures have learned to subsist even without oxygen, thriving in areas poisonous to all other forms of life.
Some anatomical changes develop in these creatures so they don’t become extinct. Bats are able to use their echolocation to navigate in complete darkness. As part of the evolution process, this blind fish has developed what scientists call its lateral line, through which it is able to find its way around, sensing vibrations and pressure changes in the water. It is able to interpret subtle shifts in the environment via messages sent from this lateral line to its central nervous system, allowing it to act quickly, without the need for sight.
The Bottomless Underwater Cave
The mesmerizing underwater cave of Chinhoyi Caves in Zimbabwe has been attracting explorers ever since its discovery in 1888. Deep water divers have explored as deep as 120 meters, but no one has reached the bottom to date, so luckily there's still lots to be discovered.
The cave system is composed primarily of limestone and dolomite. In the main cave you can find a pool of cobalt blue water, which is known as the Sleeping Pool or Chirorodziva ("Pool of the Fallen"). Scuba Diving is possible in the caves all year round, and the conditions are optimal as visibility is high and temperatures never rise beyond the 72 to 75 °F (22 to 24 °C) range.
The Curious, Wondrous Mystery of Caves
Despite the dangers involved in exploring the world’s most mysterious caves, scientists are endlessly drawn to devoting their time and effort to learning from them. Far more than just voids beneath the Earth’s crust, caves are rich hosts to a variety of relics and life forms. Beyond their dark openings lurk an array of vivid colors, an entirely new environment, a complex ecosystem waiting for us to discover its secrets.
Imagine what we might be able to do if all this information was to be unlocked? Within these strange environments, and among the creatures capable of inhabiting them, may lie the answers to pressing problems, like climate change and the processing of pollution. The possibilities are as broad as the caves themselves are deep. Moving forward, it is a journey that will be, at the very least, informative, dangerous, and full of life.