Caves are mysterious, breathtaking, and sometimes downright terrifying. Some of them are so deep, dark, and dangerous that exploring them could be your last adventure. From underwater labyrinths to caverns with toxic air, these places are not for the faint of heart. One wrong step, a sudden flood, or even a hidden drop could turn an exciting trip into a nightmare. Yet, thrill-seekers and scientists still push the limits, diving into these underground worlds despite the risks. Would you dare step into one of these deadly caves, or would you rather admire them from a safe distance? Credit:
Neil Armstrong pose: By NASA, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=55244
CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0:
Cathedral Caves: By abu_9495, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52746016
Cristales cueva de Naica: By Alexander Van Driessche, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23231964
CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/:
Corridor: By MezzoforteF, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20151869
Cuevamanos3399: By Fjturban, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28605055
Verëvkina cave: By PJakopin, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=130841885
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Kitum Cave Inside Out: By datakid musicman - https://flic.kr/p/qeJDxT, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82600452
Bracken Cave Bats: By Daniel Spiess, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11004444
Jacob's Well Vertical: By TerraFrost, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=146582359
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This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.
Neil Armstrong pose: By NASA, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=55244
CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0:
Cathedral Caves: By abu_9495, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52746016
Cristales cueva de Naica: By Alexander Van Driessche, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23231964
CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/:
Corridor: By MezzoforteF, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20151869
Cuevamanos3399: By Fjturban, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28605055
Verëvkina cave: By PJakopin, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=130841885
CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0:
Kitum Cave Inside Out: By datakid musicman - https://flic.kr/p/qeJDxT, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=82600452
Bracken Cave Bats: By Daniel Spiess, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11004444
Jacob's Well Vertical: By TerraFrost, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=146582359
Animation is created by Bright Side.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Music from TheSoul Sound: https://thesoul-sound.com/
Check our Bright Side podcast on Spotify and leave a positive review! https://open.spotify.com/show/0hUkPxD34jRLrMrJux4VxV
Subscribe to Bright Side: https://goo.gl/rQTJZz
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https://www.shutterstock.com
https://www.eastnews.ru
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For more videos and articles visit:
http://www.brightside.me
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This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.
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FunTranscript
00:00In the ice caves of Mount Rainier in the United States, vibrant blues and whites form breathtaking
00:06ice sculptures that sparkle like precious gems.
00:09But don't get too close.
00:11These delicate formations are constantly at risk of collapse.
00:16As temperatures rise, ice chunks and flakes, some the size of a small car, break loose
00:21and fall from the cave ceiling.
00:24Caves also face the risk of hypothermia, with freezing air inside and even colder meltwater
00:30flowing from the snow field.
00:32The volume of meltwater increases as the day heats up, making the caves even riskier in
00:38the afternoon.
00:40If you dive into this strange pond in Norway, known as Plura, and swim around for around
00:45one third of a mile, you will emerge into a long, colorful cave, where limestone and
00:52formations form narrow and edgy passageways.
00:56If you are an OK diver, who does it just for fun, you can end your exploration there.
01:02But this cave system is the deepest in Northern Europe, so highly trained and experienced
01:06divers can continue exploring the course, which quickly plunges much deeper, through
01:11pitch black, ice-cold water, becoming narrow and difficult.
01:17In winter, temperatures drop to around 36 degrees Fahrenheit.
01:21Sadly, tragic incidents have marked this cave's history, as lost divers have faced perilous
01:26retrieval efforts.
01:29Jacob's Well in Texas looks like a calm 12-foot swimming hole, inviting and refreshing.
01:34Yet, what lies beneath is a treacherous sinkhole leading to a hidden underwater cave system.
01:40The dark, secretive depths beneath the placid water descend vertically for about 30 feet,
01:46then continue downward at an angle, through a series of silted chambers, separated by
01:51narrow restrictions, finally reaching an average depth of 120 feet, which is about the height
01:58of a Ferris wheel.
02:00Despite its pretty appearance, the well claimed nine lives between the 1960s and the 1980s,
02:06but some people speculate that the actual number could be higher.
02:10This is why these dark, secretive depths are still known as some of the most dangerous
02:14diving locations in the United States.
02:18As we dive deeper into the earth, we find ourselves in Verkovnika Cave in Georgia, known
02:23for being the deepest cave in the world.
02:27It is over 7,000 feet deep, plunging into the unknown, where there is a real risk of
02:33deadly floods from underground sources.
02:36At the deepest level you can reach, there is a stunning turquoise lake surrounded by
02:40jet black limestone.
02:42It is described as a beautiful, yet eerie spot that can quickly turn into a scenario
02:47where you need to fight for survival.
02:50When storms and thunder hit, the roar inside the cave is almost deafening, and the water
02:55floods rise really fast.
02:57When this happens, explorers cannot afford to wait, they must find a way out immediately.
03:03The thing is, caves and storms together are a seriously dangerous mix.
03:08Take for example the event that occurred in 2018 that had the whole world glued to
03:13the news.
03:1412 boys from a junior soccer team went exploring in Thailand's Chiang Rai province with their
03:21coach.
03:22They raced their bicycles up into the forested hills to reach the Tam Long Cave.
03:26In high spirits, they clambered into the cave with just their torches, planning to stay
03:31for only about an hour.
03:34But they didn't emerge until two weeks later.
03:36That's because right after they entered there, heavy rainfall began, partially flooding
03:41the cave system, blocking their way out, and trapping them deep inside.
03:45This is how the world learned about the real dangers of the Tam Long Cave.
03:51The Khitom Caves located in Mount Elgon National Park in Kenya is considered one of the most
03:56dangerous caves in the world.
03:58The cavern walls are covered in scuffs and marks that appear to have been made by miners
04:03searching for gems or gold.
04:05But later, it was discovered that those strange marks were actually made by elephants that
04:10go inside and mine the rock, seeking its sodium-rich salts.
04:15Although it is interesting, that's not the reason the cave is so frightening.
04:19It turns out these caves have a long history of being a breeding ground for some of the
04:24most fatal viruses in human history.
04:27Just to be safe, it's best to stay far away from there.
04:31In Mexico, the Naica Mine offers a jaw-dropping spectacle of gigantic crystals towering over
04:38visitors.
04:39This otherworldly landscape is more than just a visual marvel.
04:43It's also bathed in extreme heat, with temperatures rising as high as 136 degrees Fahrenheit.
04:50Additionally, the air in the cave has 90-99% humidity, making the environment feel even
04:57more unbearably hot.
04:59Before you start making travel plans to visit this amazing natural site, keep in mind that
05:04this cave is completely off-limits to tourists.
05:08Only scientists with special permission can enter, and they must wear protective gear.
05:14Our next stop is in New Zealand, where you can find the Cathedral Cave, which is actually
05:19two connected limestone sea caves located on Waipati Beach.
05:24With 600 feet of tunnels reaching impressive heights of 98 feet, these caves are among
05:30the most remarkable sea cave complexes in the world.
05:34And they were formed after waves hit the same spot over thousands of years.
05:39The caves earn their name thanks to their acoustics, which are so good that they remind
05:44of those in a cathedral.
05:46However, you cannot test your singing skills at just any time, as it's only safe to visit
05:51during low tide.
05:53To avoid danger, visitors are only allowed when weather, sea swell, and tides are favorable.
06:00If you're not a fan of bats, you should definitely stay far away from Bracken Cave, located in
06:06Texas.
06:08During the summer, this dark hole becomes home to the largest colony of bats in the
06:12world.
06:13I'm talking about around 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats roosting there from March
06:18to October.
06:21Those people who are brave enough to approach say it's like watching a ballet as millions
06:26of bats emerge from the cave in synchronized waves, never once bumping into one another.
06:32If you listen closely, you can hear their wings flapping, which people describe as sounding
06:37like steady, gently falling rain.
06:42Now we arrive at Cueva de los Deos, which is known for an enigma that has intrigued
06:47explorers for decades.
06:49Located in the Andean jungle of southeastern Ecuador, this cave can only be assessed through
06:54a narrow 230-foot vertical drop known as the chimney.
06:59Inside, explorers find a labyrinth world of chambers the size of large buildings, connected
07:05by narrow galleries and impressive halls, some of which are pierced by jagged stalactites
07:11and stalagmites.
07:13But if that isn't enough to make your heart race, wait, Cueva de los Deos is rumored to
07:18contain ancient artifacts and secrets from civilizations long past.
07:24Some say it holds a metal library with golden plates engraved with a previously unknown
07:30history of humankind.
07:32Others believe that the tunnels are too perfect to be natural, suggesting they must have been
07:36created by ancient people, possibly with the help of extraterrestrial technology.
07:42These rumors have spurred many expeditions to the cave, including one led by Neil Armstrong.
07:48Yes, that Neil Armstrong, who sought to uncover its mysteries.
07:53To this day however, the cave has kept its secrets well hidden.
07:57Just like Cueva de los Deos, the final cave on our list isn't particularly dangerous,
08:03but it'll certainly send chills down your spine.
08:05I mean, look at this stone wall, completely covered by hand shapes.
08:10What seems like something out of a horror movie is actually the Cueva de los Manos in
08:15Argentina.
08:17The name means Cave of the Hands in English, and getting to these prehistoric hand paintings
08:22made about 13,000 years ago is no small feat.
08:27The most adventurous travelers take a one and a half hour hike through rugged terrain
08:31to reach it, but the moment explorers step inside, they are greeted by this incredible
08:37artwork from ancient times.
08:39It is believed that there are around 800 hands inside this cave, with palms of various sizes,
08:45some small, others long and thin, indicating that in addition to men, the prince belonged
08:51to women and children.
08:53Their authenticity is unquestionable, which makes it all much more interesting.
08:59That's it for today!
09:01So hey, if you pacified your curiosity, then give the video a like and share it with your
09:06friends!
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