Ice formation inside Eisriesenwelt ("World of the Ice Giants") cave in the state of Salzburg, Austria, Europe

Ice formations inside Eisriesenwelt ("World of the Ice Giants") cave near Werfen in the state of Salzburg, Austria, Europe. Eisriesenwelt ("World of the Ice Giants") is the most significant cave system in the Alps. Claimed to be the world's largest ice cave (42 km long), Eisriesenwelt ("World of the Ice Giants") is actually a limestone cave containing ice decorations, mostly extensively in the first kilometer. The main entrance lies high in the Tennen Gebirge mountains at 1641m elevation — an impressive 1000 meters above Werfen village in the Salzach Valley. Visiting the cave requires advance reservations, parking high on mountain road, walking up 20 minutes to a cable car, walking 20 more minutes up to the cave entrance, then walking 70 minutes up and down on the guided tour. About every fifth person carries a traditional carbide lamp with an open flame. Because the cave has no electricity installed, guides burn magnesium for temporarily brighter lighting. The carbonate strata in this part of the Alps extends from the Triassic to the Jurassic, and the caves were formed during the late Tertiary period.

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Filename: 20230801_162309.jpg
Copyright: © Tom Dempsey / PhotoSeek.com
Image Size: 2548x3440 / 2.0MB; http://www.photoseek.com/; ice people recreation sports
Contained in galleries: 2023 Jul: Alps: Bavaria; Tyrol; Salzburg; Dolomites, AUSTRIA: Tyrol & Salzburg, Eastern Alps

Ice formations inside Eisriesenwelt ("World of the Ice Giants") cave near Werfen in the state of Salzburg, Austria, Europe. Eisriesenwelt ("World of the Ice Giants") is the most significant cave system in the Alps. Claimed to be the world's largest ice cave (42 km long), Eisriesenwelt ("World of the Ice Giants") is actually a limestone cave containing ice decorations, mostly extensively in the first kilometer. The main entrance lies high in the Tennen Gebirge mountains at 1641m elevation — an impressive 1000 meters above Werfen village in the Salzach Valley. Visiting the cave requires advance reservations, parking high on mountain road, walking up 20 minutes to a cable car, walking 20 more minutes up to the cave entrance, then walking 70 minutes up and down on the guided tour. About every fifth person carries a traditional carbide lamp with an open flame. Because the cave has no electricity installed, guides burn magnesium for temporarily brighter lighting. The carbonate strata in this part of the Alps extends from the Triassic to the Jurassic, and the caves were formed during the late Tertiary period.