The Crystal of the Devil Ready to go down into the belly of the Earth? Ready to go down into the belly of the Earth? It is not always easy. A descent of 40 meters leads to a large cavern. It is in the Causse Noir (southern France), limestone plateau where the waters have carved caves: limestone rocks are more It is not always easy. A descent of 40 meters leads to a large easily dissolved by water, acidified by the CO2. cavern. It is in the Causse Noir, Southern France, limestoneplateau where the waters have carved caves: limestone rocks are more easily dissolved by water, acidified by the CO2.
Well greenIn the vastness of this deep well over 100 meters is easy to miss the proportions. You see the caver who is climbing abseiling?
Medusa underground In a cave in the mountains of the French Montagne Noire, a Spectacular "jellyfish" red calcite - stalactites of this mineral areformed by the precipitation of calcium carbonate present in water droplets that descend into the caves.
Cathedral glacialA tunnel in a glacier in the Alps of Berchtesgaden, Germany. So are caves carved by water flowing inside or under them, andthat comes from melting on the surface, or formed under the ice if there are hot springs or volcanoes.
Ice teethA mouth seems to eat an ice cave caving in Eiskogelhöhle, Austria.
Icy needlesThese stalagmites of ice seem to sprout from the ground. But inreality formed by water dripping from the ceiling, the air cold freezes water droplets that are deposited on the ground.
Ice climbingIn the eyes of two cavers time seems to stand still. The stalactite of ice is located in Austria.
Art of clay These striped Kalkstäbchen hang just a few feet above acreek. The brown layers formed when the water level risesand the cave is flooded. Then the mud deposited from the turbid water
Max Wisshak in a sea of aragonite crystals in the Causse Noire, Auvergne, France
Cave passagesThis circular pressure tube is unique in its perfection, it was only bywater power. The corridor is located in the Ardèche region of France, 60 meters deep in the earth, far below the water table
Dangerous moldThrive in the underground creatures that are perfectly suited to theenvironment inhospitable. As in the case of this mold that grows on organic material dead. Please note, in case of inhalation may be harmful to humans.
Sticky traps Sticky traps There are even tiny stalactites and limestone formationshanging from the ceiling of a cave. In New Zealand, in the caves of Waitomo and hanging from ceiling fluorescent larvae of fungus gnat - Arachnocampa light. These larval flies emit agreenish light very weak. Aided by the darkness of the caves and their relative abundance larvae make walls glow of the filaments. And sticky.
A Cave for Fakirs ...A carpet of delicate gypsum crystals, up to 20 cm long: one of the unusual formations of Lechuguilla Cave, USA, -196 km long, is one of the longest. The cave - Krubera Voronya, in Georgia, however, is the deepest in the world down to 2,190 meters, including wells and sunken passages.
Petrified Waterfalls Frozen waterfalls in Eiskogelhöhle, Austria - at 2,100meters, is an ice cave, where the cold air remains "trapped" and the water that infiltrates gives rise to spectacular ice formations.
"The Crystal of the Devil"