Eisriesenwelt Cave : AUSTRIA
The Eisriesenwelt (German for "World of the Ice Giants") is a natural limestone ice cave located in Werfen, Austria, inside the Hochkogel Mountain in the Tennengebirge section of the Alps. It is the largest ice cave in the world, extending more than 42 km. Only the first kilometer, the area that tourists are allowed to visit, is covered in ice. The rest of the cave is made of limestone. The Tennengebirge mountains were formed during the late Tertiary period, during the Würm glaciation period of the Pleistocene. The mountain range, one of the massifs in the Austrian Alps, is the largest karst plateau in the Salzburger Alps, and the Eisriesenwelt is located at the rim of this plateau. Although the cave has a length of 42 km, only the first kilometer, the area that tourists are allowed to visit, is covered in ice. The rest of the cave is formed of limestone. Eisriesenwelt was formed by the Salzach river, which eroded passageways into the mountain. The ice formations in the cave were formed by thawing snow which drained into the cave and froze during winter. Since the entrance to the caves is open year-round, chilly winter winds blow into the cave and freeze the snow inside. In summer, a cold wind from inside the cave blows toward the entrance and prevents the formations from melting. The first official discovery of Eisriesenwelt was by Anton Posselt, a natural scientist from Salzburg, in 1879, though he only explored the first two hundred meters of the cave. Before his discovery, the cave was known only to locals, who, believing that it was an entrance to Hell, refused to explore it. In 1880, Posselt published his findings in a mountaineering magazine, but the report was quickly forgotten. Alexander von Mörk, a speleologist from Salzburg, was one of the few people who remembered Posselt's discovery. He led several expeditions into the caves beginning in 1912, which were soon followed by other explorers. Von Mörk was killed in World War I in 1914, and an urn containing his ashes is inside a niche in the cave. In 1920, a cabin for the explorers, Forscherhütte, was built and the first routes up the mountain were established. Tourists began to arrive soon after, attracted by the cave's sudden popularity. Later another cabin, the Dr. Oedl House, and paths from Werfen and Tänneck were constructed. In 1955 a cable car was built, shortening the 90-minute climb to 3 minutes. Today the Eisriesenwelt cave is owned by the National Austrian Forest Commission, which has leased it to the Salzburg Association of Cave Exploration since 1928. The Forest Commission still receives a percentage of the entrance fees.
The Eisriesenwelt is the largest ice cave of the world. The halls are decorated with all kinds of ice formations, gigantic columns and towers of ice, ice waterfalls and glaciers. This cave is a so called dynamic icecave. The cave is located in a height were the average temperature is below zero. Several entrances to the cave allow chilly air currents to flow in. So the ice formations change slightly every year. It is located in the west wall of the Hochkogel in the Tennengebirge. On days with good weather there is a spectacular view of the surrounding mountain ranges of the Hohe Tauern from the huge cave entrance. The caves were formed during the late Tertiary. The entrance to the caves is not visible from the valley. Since this steep, tricky rock was very hard to accede in former times, the cave was not discovered until 1849. Even though an enthusiastic report was published about the exploration, the world did not take notice of the caves for another 30 years. Currently about 200,000 tourists come here every year. A mountain road from Werfen leads up to the cablecar station. You should be aware, that a visit to this natural monument takes about 5-6 hours, including the ride up to the cablecar from Werfen, the walk to the entrance of the cave and a guided tour of two hours. There is no electric light in the cave. Visitors wear carbide lamps and the most spectacular sights are illuminated with magnesium ribbon.
Warm up yourself to explore the Eisriesenwelt Caves in Austria. Owned by the National Austrian Forestry Commission, the cave would provide you one of the most thrilling experiences during your Austria visit. In Eisriesenwelt Caves, the ice remain frozen throughout the year. The ice cave is located at the height of 1640 metre. Usually the temperature remains under zero, so make sure to be prepared to save yourself from the cutting cold. Eisriesenwelt Caves are bedecked with all kinds of ice formations like gigantic columns and towers, waterfalls and glaciers. Frozen throughout the year the cave here offers a wonderful view of frosted ice. Chilly air currents running through the cave alter the ice formation every year. Currently around 200,000 tourists come to visit Eisriesenwelt Caves every year. Going from Salzburg to the South on the motorway will take you to the community of Werfen, easily spotted by its mighty Hohenwerfen Fortress. This building, however, is not the only top-attraction of this small mountain village: it is also the site of entry to the largest ice cave in the World. Here you will find a unique opportunity to change your idea of what constitutes a cave completely: instead of a dark and dirty hole you will find gigantic ice-crystals and walls of ice. The entrance point is 20 metres wide and spreads out to a dome of 18 metres height. Inside the cave the temperatures are around or below zero degrees, so even if you go there in August, don’t forget to bring warm clothing and good shoes! The Eisriesenwelt Werfen spreads over about 42 kilometres, although it is only the first kilometre that is covered with bizarre and beautifully shaped ice-layers.
