Eisriesenwelt - Austria
Another true wonder on earth, the Eisriesenwelt (Eisriesenwelt: World of Ice Giants) ice cave system is a world of wondrous underground natural ice sculptures and formations. The Eisriesenwelt is actually a maze of natural icy limestone caves, located in the Hochkogel mountain in the Alps, about 40 km south of Salzburg, Austria.
In German, the Eisriesenwelt stands for “World of Ice Giants,” and this is a very appropriate name for a cave found in north-central Austria. The largest ice cave on the planet Eisriesenwelt is located 400 meters below the surface and is 42 kilometers long. Visitors can explore a part of this frozen underworld, once believed to be the icy entrance to hell.
Melissani Cave - Greece
Hidden on the Greek island of Kefalonia in the Ionian Sea, Melissani Cave is so rich in water that it looks like boats are floating in the air. This cave was once the sanctuary of the god Pan, although it is named after a nymph whose love Pan rejected, and it then fell into the lake and killed itself. The central part of the cave is a wide opening where the former rocky roof collapsed several thousand years ago.
Melisani Cave was first discovered in 1951, and was opened to the public only in 1963. The water in the lake is salty and consists of a mixture of sea water and fresh water. It is about 500 m away from the sea, and the water level is one meter higher than the sea level.
The cave has the shape of the letter B, ie two halls that are separated by an island in the center. At its top is a balcony with a beautiful view. The cave is 160 m long, 40 m wide, and the water in the lake, which is incredibly cold, reaches a depth of 39 meters. When the sun penetrates the cave at noon, the water turns turquoise blue. It is best to visit the cave in the afternoon (around 12 noon), because then the reflection of colors is the most beautiful.
