A stunning geological wonder at the centre of the earth has been called the “best kept and most breathtaking secret on the planet” – but you would be risking your life to visit it.
The inhospitable underground cave is called the Cave of the Crystals and it is based in Chihuahua, Mexico. One broadcaster, Michael Usher, who negotiated for two years to be granted access, called it “mother nature’s Sistine Chapel” that is “almost something from out of space”. It can be found 300 metres below the surface of a lead mine in the town of Naica and is filled with spectacular crystals, some weighing 55 tonnes and being 11 metres high.
The cave was not discovered until the year 2000 when miners uncovered the chamber of crystals while drilling. It is shaped like a horseshoe and stretches 110 metres.
Despite being mesmerising inside, you would be flirting with death if you stayed there for too long.
In recent days, 60 Minutes Australia rereleased a video showing their reporter being given rare access, and he said: “The furnace-like heat and soaring humidity can kill you in minutes. But when you see what I saw – you will see why it was worth every suffocating gasp for breath.”
Humans are not built to last in 58 degree heat with stifling humidity and before Michael descended into the cave, a doctor accompanying him said: “This is going to be the harshest environment that you and I are ever going to come across in our life. So I am excited but a little anxious.”
The crystals were described as “the most spectacular anywhere in the word” with Michael saying he was “literally blown away” by the beauty of it.
Also present was British geologist Dougal Jerram who marvelled at what he was seeing, saying it was the stuff of make believe while comparing it to something you would see in a Walt Disney production.
However, despite the scenery, the trio were soon sweating profusely, comparing the feeling to like running a marathon. The humidity is at a perilous 90% and people aren’t allowed to stay more than 10 minutes, even with specially-designed cooling suits.
The doctor said they were essentially being cooked from the inside and the geologist added: “It is a remarkable place but it is so overpowering in terms of its attack on you in the environment. You are in this kind of constant battle of being overpowered physically, mentally and psychologically in every way.”
Struggling for breath, they soon left the cave, and were left to reflect on what they witnessed.
The crystal cave they explored was first formed some 26 million years ago when magma rose from the reservoir, which, according to Live Science, pushed mineral-rich waters up through cracks in the rock.
This opened up caverns in the limestone before the deposits were crystalised over thousands of years.
After visiting the natural wonder that was “enormous” and the size of a football field, geologist Dougal concluded: “Oh, this is truly one of the most… if we were to list seven geological wonders of the world, this is definitely one of them.”
Scientists have to get a special permit to visit the Cave of the Crystals, given it is so dangerous, and no tourists are allowed.
