Eisriesenwelt

Hotels near Eisriesenwelt, Schonau am Konigssee, Germany .

Eisriesenwelt, a labyrinth of natural limestone ice caves almost 25 miles long, is in Werfen, Austria, located inside the Hochkogel mountain in the Tennegebirge section of the Alps. Not only is it the largest ice cave in the world, it is also visited by over 200,000 tourists each year.

The first cracks and crevices in the limestone appeared during the elevation of the mountains about 100 million years ago. Over the course of thousands of years, these cracks became more developed and extended as a result of chemical reactions and water erosion. The caves in the Alps are still developing, although in many cases the process of drying out has limited their development.

The corridors and the crevices in the Eisriesenwelt connect lower lying entrances to higher openings, so that air circulates either upwards or downwards, depending upon the outside temperature. In winter, when the air inside the mountain is warmer than outside, cold air streams into the mountain and reduces the temperature of the lower areas of the caves to below freezing point. In spring the meltwater seeps through the cracks in the rock and when it reaches the colder lower areas of the caves it freezes and turns slowly into ice formations inside the caves.

Because the cave is a national monument, it may only be entered with guides. Visitors may visit from May to October only. Guided tours are held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. and last 75 minutes. It takes about four hours for a complete tour of the caves. Visitors are recommended to wear heavy shoes and warm clothing, as even in summer the temperature is usually below freezing. Lamps are handed out at the entrance to the cave, and there is additional magnesium lighting inside the cave.

Tickets for a combined cable car and cave visit cost $28 USD for adults and $14 USD for children. It is not recommended that children under 4 try to visit, as the long walk and cold temperatures usually don't suit them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisriesenwelt

http://www.eisriesenwelt.at/site/content/CB_ContentShow.php?coType=home&lang=EN

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