Marble Caverns of Carrera Lake, Chile
(Marble Caverns of Carrera Lake Explorer Pin)
- Carved into the Patagonian Andes, the “Cuevas de Mármol” (as the locals call them) or “The Marble Caverns are made entirely out of different colored marble.”
- Created over several thousand years from the nearby waves causing erosion, “the swirling blue of the cavern walls are a reflection of the lake’s azure waters.” With other shades of eye-popping color (such as white, gray, blue, and even pink), the caves change color depending on the time of year and water levels. The shades of blue intensify and, between the months of September and February, the ice melts in Lake Carrera (a glacial lake spanning the border of Chile and Argentina) and causes the water to turn a brilliant turquoise.
- Reachable only by boat across waters too cold for swimming, the first sight of the caverns is a gorgeous spectacle and marvel of nature.
Giant Crystal Cave, Mexico
(Spartan and the Green Egg Giant Crystal Cave Explorer Pin)
- The Giant Crystal Cave or “Cave of the Crystals” is an underground cave below the Sierra de Naica Mountain in Chihuahua, Mexico. “It is connected to another underground network, the Naica Mine, which is filled with selenite crystals.” These crystals fill the cavern and are massive in size (some are large enough to walk across); they are basically huge pillars made of the mineral gypsum. Discovered in 2000 by miners, these crystals are utterly amazing but very difficult for tourists to see due to hazardous conditions in the cave (mainly the unbearable heat).
Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur
(Batu Caves Explorer Pin)
- The Batu Caves in North Kuala Lumpur is a major tourist attraction. The three large caves are situated in a limestone hill (complete with smaller caves, temples, idols, and statues). The Cathedral Cave is the largest and most popular of the Batu Caves, and its entrance is guarded by an enormous gold statue of the Hindu deity Lord Murugan. This ancient site (with limestone formations said to be 400 million years old) is very important to Malaysian peoples and practitioners of the Hindu faith all over the world.
Piusa Sand Caves, Estonia
(Piusa Sand Caves Explorer Pin)
- The Estonian village of Piusa is known for many different things, but most travelers will know it for “the unique sand caves that are visible among the Piusa River.” Because of all the nearby sand quarries, there are many glass objects made in Piusa. The awesome caves are also known for the large colony of bats that hibernate there! What a creepy but amazing sight! Literally thousands of bats of several different species have been counted, and scientists come from all over to study them.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand
(Waitomo “Glowworm” Cave Explorer Pin)
- “The Waitomo Caves are also sometimes known as the ‘Glowworm caves’ by natives to the Northern King County in New Zealand.” The limestone caves are New Zealand’s most magical natural attraction; with thousands of glow worms, the caves are lit from within with an eerie green light. The thousands of tiny living stars give a magnificent light show, so boat rides through the grotto are common and nothing short of magical.
To travel vicariously through Spartan and the Green Egg and with the help of your imagination, collect your Spartan and the Green Egg Explorer Pins! To learn more about the pins as well as Spartan and the Green Egg, visit the websites below:
https://www.spartanandthegreenegg.com/product/marble-caverns/
https://www.spartanandthegreenegg.com/product/giant-crystal-cave-mexico/
https://www.spartanandthegreenegg.com/product/batu-caves-kuala-lumpur/
https://www.spartanandthegreenegg.com/product/piusa-sand-caves/
https://www.spartanandthegreenegg.com/product/waitomo-glowworm-caves-new-zealand/
For more information on the caves mentioned in this blog, consult the websites below:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/marble-caves-of-chile-chico
https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geology/mexico-giant-crystal-cave.htm
http://www.kuala-lumpur.ws/attractions/batu-caves.htm
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