The capricious mother Earth does not display all her wares, some like diamond are hidden beneath our feet. Here are 25 Spectacular world’s underground wonders from around the globe!
Located in Guilin, Guangxi, China, Reed Flute Cave is a cave comprising of large numbers of Stalagmite and stalactite and rock formations in different and wonderful formations. These formations have been given fanciful names such as Crystal Palace, Dragon Pagoda, Virgin Forest, Flower and Fruit Mountain etc. This limestone cave houses 70 inscriptions in ink ( encompassing poems and travelogue) dated to 792 AD  in the Tang dynasty. The cave got its name due to the dense growth of reeds (used for flutes) growing right outside the cave. The cave was rediscovered  in 1940’s by a group of refugees fleeing from the advancing Japanese troops. Multicolored lamps illuminate the various rock formations nowadays.(source 1,2)
2Â Å kocjan Caves, SloveniaImage Source: tripatlas
Škocjan Caves are considered as a natural treasure by the scientists. Understandably, UNESCO has stamped its approval on this cave by entering them in the list of cultural world heritage sites in 1986. Škocjan Caves is a branched system of caves with enormous dimensions and is one of the largest known underground canyons in the world. Velika and Mala Dolina can impress even the most jaded souls with their impressive depths. it is said that these caves can easily accommodate a 45-story building. This important underground phenomenon situated both in Karst and Slovenia boasts of diverse stalactite formations that include limestone pools, and larger stalactites in the Great Hall. The caves are more than 5000 years old!(source)
3Â Magma Chamber of Thrihnukagigur Volcano, Iceland
Although a mention of a volcano and descending into it might make a man jittery, this volcano hasn’t erupted in 4000 years, thus, one can safely say that it is dormant. The volcano with the unpronounceable name of “Thrihnukagigur” translates as ‘Three Peaks Crater” in English. Magma’s which are usually present in a volcano has completely vanished, leaving behind a technicolored  mineral coloration. The ground space of this crater can easily fit in 3 basketball courts placed next to each other and at 700 feet, Statue of Liberty can be fitted into the chamber quite easily.(source)
The mausoleum constructed over a period of 38 years (246 to 208 BCE) is built beneath a 76-meter tall tomb mound. This is the tomb of the first Qin Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who ruled over the united China. The tomb is modeled on the Qin capital city of Xianyang. The ancient Chinese just like the ancient Egyptians believed that a person’s possessions, including everyday objects, animals, slaves and concubines would be necessary for gaining an entry into heaven but the emperor came up with an alternative – Terracotta replica. The Emperor is guarded by a life-sized terracotta army of thousands. Each soldier is unique, with individual clothing, hair, and facial features. So far 2000 soldiers have been unearthed (out of 8000 soldiers).(source)
Poço Encantado or the enchanted pool is located near Chapada Diamantina Park. It is a flooded cave at the bottom of the sinkhole. The cave’s name originates from the visual feast created by the sun’s rays hitting the crystal clear water giving it a mystique blue color. The bright rays turn the water transparent and one can see 200 feet to the bottom where gnarled tree trunks and rock formation appear closer than it actually is. The phenomenon normally occurs from April to September.(source)
Ranked 22 among the most spectacular tourist destinations in the world, the 17th century Turda Salt mines was used for diverse purposes – from cheese storage to a bomb shelter during World War II. The 400-feet deep salt mine has been converted into an amusement park.(source)
7Â Puerto Princesa Underground River, PhilippinesImage Source: philippinepicture
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River is a 24 Km long river and is situated 50 km north of  the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. In 2010, environmentalists and scientists discovered that there was a second floor to the river, which means that there are small waterfalls inside the cave. The Italian’s chamber is considered to be one of the largest cave rooms  in the world. The surrounding national park supports diverse ecosystems – from mountain to the sea ecosystem. UNESCO listed it as a Heritage Site on December 4, 1999. It is one of the new seven wonders of the world.(source)
8 Cave of the Crystals, MexicoImage Source: lazerhorse
Cueva de los Cristales or the Giant Crystal cave stunned geologists when it was discovered in 2000. The underground  chambers contain the largest natural crystals ever found in this world. The cave is connected to Naica mine 300 meters below the surface in Naica, Mexico. The cave is extremely hot with temperatures soaring to 58 degrees and with 90- 100% humidity. Without adequate protection , people can endure only 10 minutes of these unfavorable conditions. Hence, the cave is largely unexplored.(source)
