5Eisriesenwelt, Austria
High in the Austrian Alps lies Eisriesenwelt, a spectacular world of ice hidden inside a limestone mountain. Its name translates roughly to “World of the Ice Giants,” an appropriate description for the enormous ice formations found inside.
The cave stretches for more than 40 kilometers, although visitors explore only a portion of the system. Massive frozen formations create walls, curtains and towers of ice that change in appearance depending on the light.
Reaching the cave is an adventure in itself, involving a mountain journey and cable car ride. The combination of alpine scenery and underground ice makes Eisriesenwelt one of Europe’s most unusual natural attractions.
