21 Stunning Photos Of The World's Most Beautiful Caves

By All That's Interesting | Edited By John Kuroski

Published April 27, 2016

Updated March 1, 2018

From azure caverns to crystal-bedded lakes, find your inner explorer with these 21 photos and facts about the world's most incredible caves.

At some point in their childhood, many people have gone on field trips to old mining tunnels, but only a lucky and adventurous few have ventured into the azure caverns and over the crystal-bedded subterranean lakes of the world’s most stunning caves.

These places hold a visual bounty for explorers of all stripes, be they those who actually make the descent or those who prefer the safety of photographs. Here, in photos, are 21 of the world’s most incredible caves:

Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park

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Antelope Canyon, Arizona

The unique shape and color of this Navajo sandstone is the result of monsoons eroding the structure.Flickr

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Phraya Nakhon Cave, Thailand

Sun beams rain down upon the cave's Kuha Karuhas pavilion, showering it in light.Wikimedia Commons

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Vatnajökull Glacier, Iceland

These spectacular tunnels only form during the winter when it’s cold enough for glacial rivers to freeze; this means the caves can reform in different locations with new paths to explore.Flickr

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Mammoth Cave, Kentucky

This behemoth is the world’s longest cave system, with over 400 miles of its tunnels and chambers explored.Wikimedia Commons

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Blue Lake Cave, Brazil

This stunning underground cerulean pool plunges to a depth of 200 ft. It’s suspected that this lake is being fed by an underground river that has yet to be discovered.Wikimedia Commons

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Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico

The chambers within this cavern were given quirky names such as “Chocolate High” and “Talcum Passage.”Wikimedia Commons

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Choranche Caves, France

The needle thin crystals that protrude from this unique cavern are known as soda straws.Wikimedia Commons

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Crystal Cave, Bermuda

Floating pontoons allow viewers to tread across a pristine underground lake, taking in the clusters of crystals that form above and below the water’s surface.Wikimedia Commons

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Devetashka Cave, Bulgaria

Artifacts of early man have been discovered within this cave dating as far back as the Neolithic Era.Wikimedia Commons

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Son Doong Cave, Vietnam

This cave, the largest in the world, is so overwhelmingly massive that it has its own weather system.Wikimedia Commons

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Fingal's Cave Scotland

This sea cave’s unique structure is due to the hexagonal pillars of basalt that form together.Flickr

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Blue Grotto, Capri

Passengers have to lie on their back in order to cross through the Blue Grotto’s cave opening, which is no taller than a meter.Flickr

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Lechuguilla Cave, New Mexico

Though previously unexplored and thought to be insignificant, it was discovered in 1986 that this cave is actually the longest limestone cavern in the United States.Wikimedia Commons

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Marble Caves, Chile

Waves cast an azure light over the ocean worn marble.Wikimedia Commons

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Niah Caves, Malaysia

This unique cave held telltale signs of early man’s residence, though it was only confirmed after the remains of a species of Homo sapiens was unearthed there,; dating as far back as 38,000 B.C.Wikimedia Commons

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Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Philippines

This stunning cave system is one of the few of its kind; with an extremely old forest growing within it and a diverse array of wildlife, it is a well protected site for biodiversity conservation.Wikimedia Commons

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Tadrart Acacus, Libya

Though its priceless cave art has been at risk due to excessive tourism and even vandalism, the unique caves within this mountain range still house art created by mankind over 12,000 years ago.Wikimedia Commons

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Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes, Germany

This previous slate mining pit is more commonly known in English as the “Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes.”Wikimedia Commons

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Skocjan Caves, Slovenia

These caves are home to a handful of astounding endangered species such as the cave salamander and the long-fingered bat.Wikimedia Commons

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St. Michael's Cave, Gibraltar

Before 1840, two military personnel went down into the caves for some adventure and exploration, only to vanish within its limestone halls; despite sending down additional exploration parties from 1936 to 1938, their remains were never found.Wikimedia Commons

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Verdes' Cave, Spain

This underground lava tube is best known for the concert hall set up at its entrance.Wikimedia Commons

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Next, step inside some of the world's most gorgeous salt caves. Then venture down into Son Doong Cave, the largest cave in the world.

author

Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.

editor

Based in Brooklyn, New York, John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of expertise include modern American history and the ancient Near East. In an editing career spanning 17 years, he previously served as managing editor of Elmore Magazine in New York City for seven years.

Venture Down Into The 21 Most Beautiful Caves On Earth