The Coolest Caves in the World

By Diana Gerstacker

April 26,2015; 6:12AM,EDT

 

 

When you take a look at the world on a map, it seems there isn't much left to discover. There are, of course, the depths of the ocean that are still largely unexplored and perhaps some parts of the poles haven't yet been seen by human eyes, but other than that it seems that we've found almost everything else-until you consider the caves.
These structures are incredible feats of nature and man and many of them are still being discovered today. No one found the Cave of Crystals until 2000 and no one has been able to explore the whole interior due to its extreme heat and humidity. Better yet, the largest cave system in the entire world was just discovered in 2009-and there could be an even larger cave out there, no one knows for sure. These incredible earthly features are being unveiled and explored all the time.
Though you may not be able to visit and get inside some of these caves, they are definitely worth a look. From Patagonia to China, these natural and man-made caves are unbelievable. Check out the 10 coolest caves in the world.
Tham Lot Cave -- Soppong, Thailand

Credit: Flickr/Green Baron
This cave system in northern Thailand is home to bats, swifts, a stream and gigantic rock formations. To explore the limestone cave, which is one of the biggest in the country of Thailand, you must hire a guide who will bring a lantern. No one is allowed to venture in alone, but with the gas lamps, it doesn't get too much more authentic than this. Branch off from the main chamber into one of three side chambers by way of a ladder and explore the depths of this cave.
Marble Caves -- Patagonia, Chile

Credit: Flickr/Neil Wilkie
Out in in the turquoise waters of General Carrera Lake sits 5,000 million tons of marble, elegantly shaped by nature into caves. Viewing the caves in person is a far more beautiful experience than looking at any photo, but getting there is more difficult than you can imagine. After a series of flights into the city of Coyhaique, you'll need to drive another 200 miles and then board a boat, which will get you to the caves.
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Man-Made Caves -- Dolomites, Italy

Credit: Flickr/Marcus Povey
The stunningly beautiful man-made caves that sit high among the Dolomites are the result of a dark, tragic time. The area was the front line between Italy and Austria during World War I and as a result these caves still exist in the mountains and bullet holes still line many of the trees below.