We continue our journey in search of alien places on our planet. These amazing places can be found on all continents of the globe. Images enlarge when you click on them. We wish you a pleasant viewing!

 

Waitomo Firefly Cave, New Zealand

Firefly Cave is an amazing cave in the Waitomo cave system located on the northern island of New Zealand in the village of Waitomo. The caves are formed from limestone and are over 2 million years old, which is why Waitomo is considered one of the oldest caves. Firefly Cave got its name because of the insects living here – Arachnocampa luminosa. This type of firefly lives exclusively in New Zealand, so the Firefly Cave has become famous all over the world and is often visited by tourists.

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Firefly Cave is an amazing cave in the Waitomo cave system located on the northern island of New Zealand in the village of Waitomo. The caves are formed from limestone and are over 2 million years old, which is why Waitomo is considered one of the oldest caves. Firefly Cave got its name because of the insects living here – Arachnocampa luminosa. This type of firefly lives exclusively in New Zealand, so the Firefly Cave has become famous all over the world and is often visited by tourists.

Excursion to the Firefly Cave includes a boat ride under the fireflies. In the dark, fireflies glow with a greenish-bluish glow, which makes the arches of the cave look like a starry sky.

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Excursion to the Firefly Cave includes a boat ride under the fireflies. In the dark, fireflies glow with a greenish-bluish glow, which makes the arches of the cave look like a starry sky.

The cave was discovered in 1887 by Maori chief Tane Tinorau and English explorer Fred Mace. They were amazed by the glow of fireflies and the bizarre limestone formations. Tanya and Fred explored the cave many times and once found the upper entrance to the cave, which soon became the main entrance for tourists. The cave has been open to tourists since 1889.

waitomo.com

The cave was discovered in 1887 by Maori chief Tane Tinorau and English explorer Fred Mace. They were amazed by the glow of fireflies and the bizarre limestone formations. Tanya and Fred explored the cave many times and once found the upper entrance to the cave, which soon became the main entrance for tourists. The cave has been open to tourists since 1889.

Firefly Cave has 3 levels, which are connected by a 16-meter vertical shaft. The tour starts from the first level, represented by the catacombs. The second level is called the Banquet Hall. The third and final level descends into the cathedral, the demonstration platform and the pier. The cathedral is a large hall with a vault height of about 18 meters, which ensures good acoustics. Many famous singers and choirs have performed here.

waitomo.com

Firefly Cave has 3 levels, which are connected by a 16-meter vertical shaft. The tour starts from the first level, represented by the catacombs. The second level is called the Banquet Hall. The third and final level descends into the cathedral, the demonstration platform and the pier. The cathedral is a large hall with a vault height of about 18 meters, which ensures good acoustics. Many famous singers and choirs have performed here.

The tour of the cave ends with a boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto. The boat takes tourists to the underground Waitomo River, where the only light comes from tiny fireflies creating a delightful sky of living lights.

waitomo.com

The tour of the cave ends with a boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto. The boat takes tourists to the underground Waitomo River, where the only light comes from tiny fireflies creating a delightful sky of living lights.

 

 

Giants Road, Northern Ireland

The Road of the Giants (or "The Bridge of the Giants") is a unique natural monument of about 40,000 interconnected basalt columns formed as a result of an ancient volcanic eruption. The Road of the Giants is located in the northeast of Northern Ireland.

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The Road of the Giants (or "The Bridge of the Giants") is a unique natural monument of about 40,000 interconnected basalt columns formed as a result of an ancient volcanic eruption. The Road of the Giants is located in the northeast of Northern Ireland.

The road, as well as the Causeway Coast on which it is located, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 and a National Wildlife Refuge by the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment in 1987.

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The road, as well as the Causeway Coast on which it is located, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 and a National Wildlife Refuge by the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment in 1987.

The tops of the columns form a kind of springboard, which starts at the foot of the cliff and disappears under the surface of the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although some have 4, 5, 7 and 8 corners. The tallest column is about 12 meters high.

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The tops of the columns form a kind of springboard, which starts at the foot of the cliff and disappears under the surface of the sea. Most of the columns are hexagonal, although some have 4, 5, 7 and 8 corners. The tallest column is about 12 meters high.

Where did these unusual columns come from? About 50–60 million years ago, during the Paleogene period, the Antrim site was subject to intense volcanic activity when molten basalt permeated through the deposits, forming extensive lava plateaus. With rapid cooling, the volume of the substance decreased (this is observed when the mud dries). Horizontal compression resulted in the characteristic structure of hexagonal pillars. According to another version, the reason for the formation of such a structure is convection in a viscous liquid cooled from above.

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Where did these unusual columns come from? About 50–60 million years ago, during the Paleogene period, the Antrim site was subject to intense volcanic activity when molten basalt permeated through the deposits, forming extensive lava plateaus. With rapid cooling, the volume of the substance decreased (this is observed when the mud dries). Horizontal compression resulted in the characteristic structure of hexagonal pillars. According to another version, the reason for the formation of such a structure is convection in a viscous liquid cooled from above.

The Giants Road is owned by the National Trust of Great Britain (full name – the National Trust for Objects of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty), which organizes the access of tourists and protects this object. Giant's Road is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern Ireland.

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The Giants Road is owned by the National Trust of Great Britain (full name – the National Trust for Objects of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty), which organizes the access of tourists and protects this object. Giant's Road is the most popular tourist attraction in Northern Ireland.

 

Grand Prismatic Spring, USA

The Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest geothermal spring in the United States and the third largest in the world. It is located in Yellowstone National Park in the Middle Geyser Basin.

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The Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest geothermal spring in the United States and the third largest in the world. It is located in Yellowstone National Park in the Middle Geyser Basin.

The bright colors of the spring are the result of pigmented bacteria living at the edges of the mineral-rich water. The color of bacteria varies from green to red and depends on the ratio of chlorophyll and carotenoids in their population. In summer, the bacteria turn orange-red, and in winter, they usually turn dark green.

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The bright colors of the spring are the result of pigmented bacteria living at the edges of the mineral-rich water. The color of bacteria varies from green to red and depends on the ratio of chlorophyll and carotenoids in their population. In summer, the bacteria turn orange-red, and in winter, they usually turn dark green.

The center of the spring is sterile due to the high temperature of the water. The blue color of the water in the center of the source is a consequence of the scattering of daylight blue wavelengths by water molecules. Although this effect occurs in all bodies of water, in the Grand Prismatic Spring it is especially intense due to the combination of the purity of the water and the depth of the reservoir.

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The center of the spring is sterile due to the high temperature of the water. The blue color of the water in the center of the source is a consequence of the scattering of daylight blue wavelengths by water molecules. Although this effect occurs in all bodies of water, in the Grand Prismatic Spring it is especially intense due to the combination of the purity of the water and the depth of the reservoir.

The size of the source is approximately 75 meters by 91 meters, the depth is 49 meters, the water emissions (at a temperature of 71 °C) are approximately 2000 liters per minute.

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The size of the source is approximately 75 meters by 91 meters, the depth is 49 meters, the water emissions (at a temperature of 71 °C) are approximately 2000 liters per minute.

Thanks to its unearthly shapes, the Grand Prismatic Spring attracts tourists from all over the world who travel through Yellowstone National Park and patiently pass through the entire valley of geysers to see this natural wonder.

wikipedia.org

Thanks to its unearthly shapes, the Grand Prismatic Spring attracts tourists from all over the world who travel through Yellowstone National Park and patiently pass through the entire valley of geysers to see this natural wonder.

 

 

Pamukkale, Turkey

The ancient city of Hierapolis and the springs of Pamukkale is a natural and cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site with a total area of ​​​​about 1077 hectares in the province of Denizli in southwestern Turkey. It includes geothermal springs with a water temperature of 36 °C, terraced reservoirs formed from travertine, as well as the territory of the ancient city of Hierapolis.

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The ancient city of Hierapolis and the springs of Pamukkale is a natural and cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site with a total area of ​​​​about 1077 hectares in the province of Denizli in southwestern Turkey. It includes geothermal springs with a water temperature of 36 °C, terraced reservoirs formed from travertine, as well as the territory of the ancient city of Hierapolis.

At this point, the action of hot springs containing calcium oxide led to the formation of lime deposits on the rocky travertine terraces. Water from thermal springs, enriched with calcium, flowing down the mountainside for many centuries and falling from high ledges with many waterfalls, formed white cascades, petrified, terraces and small pools.

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At this point, the action of hot springs containing calcium oxide led to the formation of lime deposits on the rocky travertine terraces. Water from thermal springs, enriched with calcium, flowing down the mountainside for many centuries and falling from high ledges with many waterfalls, formed white cascades, petrified, terraces and small pools.

Although there are 17 thermal springs in the region with temperatures ranging from 35 to 100 °C, the white travertines in Pamukkale are formed by the precipitation of calcium from the water of one spring with a water flow rate of 466,21 liters per second and a temperature of 35,6 °C. Water in a controlled channel flows out onto the slope and down the slope from a height of 60–70 meters, gradually precipitating calcium carbonate in the form of a soft gel during a chemical reaction. To form a solid rock, it is necessary not to mix the gel. Therefore, access to some parts of the mountain is closed to visitors.

wikipedia.org

Although there are 17 thermal springs in the region with temperatures ranging from 35 to 100 °C, the white travertines in Pamukkale are formed by the precipitation of calcium from the water of one spring with a water flow rate of 466,21 liters per second and a temperature of 35,6 °C. Water in a controlled channel flows out onto the slope and down the slope from a height of 60–70 meters, gradually precipitating calcium carbonate in the form of a soft gel during a chemical reaction. To form a solid rock, it is necessary not to mix the gel. Therefore, access to some parts of the mountain is closed to visitors.

The entrance to the mountain is paid. The ticket price is 60 Turkish Liras. Entrance is possible either through the two main entrances, or through the checkpoint at the foot of the mountain. The complex is open for visiting from 6-30 to 19 hours. Swimming is prohibited, but many tourists, despite the ban, plunge into travertines, the depth of which does not exceed 1 meter.

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The entrance to the mountain is paid. The ticket price is 60 Turkish Liras. Entrance is possible either through the two main entrances, or through the checkpoint at the foot of the mountain. The complex is open for visiting from 6-30 to 19 hours. Swimming is prohibited, but many tourists, despite the ban, plunge into travertines, the depth of which does not exceed 1 meter.

In Pamukkale, Andrei Konchalovsky filmed Ogygia for the television movie Odyssey (1997), and the film Ghost Rider 2 (2012) was also filmed in Pamukkale.

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In Pamukkale, Andrei Konchalovsky filmed Ogygia for the television movie Odyssey (1997), and the film Ghost Rider 2 (2012) was also filmed in Pamukkale.

 

Son Doong, Vietnam

Son Doong is the largest cave in the world. It is located in Central Vietnam, in the province of Quang Binh, in the Phong Nha Kebang National Park. The cave has an underground river that floods some parts of the cave during the rainy season. This cave has been known to locals since 1991, in April 2009 it was discovered by a group of British speleologists.

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Son Doong is the largest cave in the world. It is located in Central Vietnam, in the province of Quang Binh, in the Phong Nha Kebang National Park. The cave has an underground river that floods some parts of the cave during the rainy season. This cave has been known to locals since 1991, in April 2009 it was discovered by a group of British speleologists.

The study of almost 6500 meters of the cave showed that in some places it reaches 200 meters in height and 150 meters in width. Shondong is considered the cave with the widest and highest passages. The total volume of the cave is estimated at 38,5 million m³.

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The study of almost 6500 meters of the cave showed that in some places it reaches 200 meters in height and 150 meters in width. Shondong is considered the cave with the widest and highest passages. The total volume of the cave is estimated at 38,5 million m³.

The cave has its own jungle, climate and even real clouds that form due to the large temperature difference. The two huge windows of the gigantic underground cavity allow light to enter many parts of it, resulting in a lush jungle with three-meter-high trees growing inside.

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The cave has its own jungle, climate and even real clouds that form due to the large temperature difference. The two huge windows of the gigantic underground cavity allow light to enter many parts of it, resulting in a lush jungle with three-meter-high trees growing inside.

Son Doong is famous not only for its impressive size, but also for the best examples of cave formations. Here you can find interesting ancient fossils, stalactites, and some of the tallest stalagmites in the world up to 70 meters high.

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Son Doong is famous not only for its impressive size, but also for the best examples of cave formations. Here you can find interesting ancient fossils, stalactites, and some of the tallest stalagmites in the world up to 70 meters high.

 

Waitomo Firefly Cave

 

Giants road

 

Pamukkale

 

Shondong