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Kungur Ice Cave
Kungur Ice Cave is near the town of Kungur in the Ural Mountains in Russia. It is one of the biggest and most fascinating caves in the world and is the world and is the only cave in Russia that has been adapted for tourist excursions.
People say that Kungur Ice Cave is like a labyrinth inside. It consists of a network of passages and a number of grottos of various sizes. Some of these grottos are fifty to a hundred metres in diameter and up to twenty metres in height. In all, the cave contains about 60 lakes, over 20 grottos, and around 6000 metres of passages. Currently, tourists have access to about 1.5 km of these passages.
The Kungur Ice Cave has become a very popular attraction over the years thanks to its impressive ice formations, and it now receives over 90,000 visitors a year. An excursion through Kungur Cave is a truly unique experience. Visitors are amazed and delighted by its beauty and charm once they enter. As they continue into its depths they get a feeling of dizziness because the high level of oxygen in the air and the thought of getting lost in its labyrinths is fightening for some people.
The main grottos have their own names. The first one tourists get to see is the ‘Brilliant’. It is full of breathtaking crystal formations of different shapes. Lights shine on them and make them sparkle with different colours. The Meteor Grotto is also quite impressive and even scary for some visitors, as it is always in complete darkness. The ‘Titanic’ is famous for its big underground lake and is one of the most interesting grottos. The Long Grotto, as its name suggests, is the longest grotto in Kungur Ice Cave, measuring around 200 metres. It has a number of small lakes with crystal clear water and an entrance to the reserved part of the cave where scientists carry out research. When leaving the cave visitors often get a feeling of returning from a long voyage to the centre of the Earth.
The best time to visit Kungur Ice Cave is in late spring when the ice stalactites reach their maximum size. The cave is easy to reach from major towns and numerous travel agencies organise excursions. Remember to wear warm clothes and comfortable footwear during the trip.