Wonder Frozen Caves Pic Editor

Some of the world’s most gorgeous ice attractions born out of nature or creative ingenuity are surprisingly close to one or two flights away. These are very wonderful caves. Where you have lava tubes or limestone passageways below the ground occasionally a rare form of cave evolves. The ice cave is strange mysterious and often dangerous they are difficult to get to and so not seen by huge amounts of people. Take a short tour into the magical world of the ice cave. These wonder ice caves are seen in different shapes and sizes. These are seen in many countries and different places.

The Blue Grotto is the emblem of Capri. It is a sea cave found on the coast of the island and is a well-known spot to all who visit the area. This cave is unique for its brilliant blue glow which comes from two sources the entrance to the cave a small opening where only one rowboat can enter at a time and a bigger hole beneath the entrance. When viewed from inside the cave the entrance appears as a brilliant white light just above the waterline while the underwater hole which is the larger source of light provides a blue glow.

The Cave of the Crystals on the other hand was discovered in 2000 and contains the largest natural selenite crystals ever found. The biggest crystal found here were 12 meters in length and 4 meters in diameter. As opposed to the cave of swords the average temperature here is 50-58 degrees Celsius with 90-99% humidity. Because of this extremely hot temperature, this case is relatively unexplored. Even scientists and researchers with the proper protective gear can only stay in the cave for 30-45 minutes at a time.

This incredible sea cave is located on the uninhabited island of Staffa in Scotland. The island is of volcanic origin and is famous for its distinctive hexagonal basalt columns of which Fingal's cave is the most striking example. The cave's size shape and naturally arched roof combine with the waves to create eerie sounds that enhance its cathedral-like atmosphere. The cave was named after the hero in James Macpherson's book Fingal which means white stranger.

Our journey begins in Iceland where JONAA photojournalist and long-time wilderness and glacier guide Agust Runarsson leads us into different ice caves. The five ice caves in this article are or rather were situated in three different glaciers. All require some effort to reach although Iceland also has ice caves that are easier to access. But regardless of how to get there, ice caves are places where tourists should under no circumstances enter without guidance and the needed security knowledge.

But once inside a magical world of surreal serenity opens up when one faces the wonder of arctic nature that ice cave truly is. For me, the excitement and privilege of this work lie no less in exploring the glaciers every year to find new caves or see if caves are still in the place they were the year before. Then to find out if they are safe to enter how far one can go inside and what safety measures need to be taken before you bring other people along. That whole process is an annual challenge and a wonderfully rewarding part of the work says Agust.

But at the same time, you experience a deep sorrow of seeing the devastating effects of climate change on Arctic nature. The speed at which our glaciers are melting and retreating is faster than anyone could have imagined only a decade back and it is very visible when it comes to the ice caves. Like all parts of glaciers they melt faster they are fewer and the ice is thinner so more are too dangerous to enter. Then of course with retreating glaciers, the ice caves are a lot further to reach. Some are simply gone forever like a small ice cave I visited often. It formed around a glacier-water stream a kind of a waterfall inside the ice where the glacier came down into a canyon. It was gorgeous but now it is gone. There is only the canyon with no ice in sight.