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

Visitors gather at the entrance to Eisriesenwelt ("World of the Ice Giants"), the most significant cave system in the Alps. Eisriesenwelt is near Werfen in the Tennen Gebirge mountains in the state of Salzburg, Austria, Europe. Claimed to be the world's largest ice cave (42 km long), it's actually a limestone cave containing ice decorations, mostly extensively in the first kilometer. 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, with every fifth person carrying a traditional carbide lamp with an open flame. Because the cave has no electricity installed, guides burn magnesium for temporarily brighter lighting. The main entrance is at an elevation of 1641m (1000 meters above the Salzach Valley). 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: 23.07ALPS-3988-Pano.jpg
Copyright: © Tom Dempsey / PhotoSeek.com
Image Size: 8514x5376 / 18.2MB; http://www.photoseek.com/; Europe Panorama PhotoBest people recreation sports
Contained in galleries: Highlights 2023, 2023 Jul: Alps: Bavaria; Tyrol; Salzburg; Dolomites, AUSTRIA: Tyrol & Salzburg, Eastern Alps

Visitors gather at the entrance to Eisriesenwelt ("World of the Ice Giants"), the most significant cave system in the Alps. Eisriesenwelt is near Werfen in the Tennen Gebirge mountains in the state of Salzburg, Austria, Europe. Claimed to be the world's largest ice cave (42 km long), it's actually a limestone cave containing ice decorations, mostly extensively in the first kilometer. 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, with every fifth person carrying a traditional carbide lamp with an open flame. Because the cave has no electricity installed, guides burn magnesium for temporarily brighter lighting. The main entrance is at an elevation of 1641m (1000 meters above the Salzach Valley). 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.