Bat Country
There’s a cave in Barangay Tambo, on Samal Island, that is only 245 feet deep. Unremarkable at first glance, once inside the cave you will be stunned to discover that even Dracula or Batman would quiver at the sight of the thousands of bats it houses.
This cave in Samal Island is being utilized as a sanctuary to the Monfort bat. They have been multiplying numerously for years in the subterranean shadows, where their sense of echolocation allows them to know precisely how much space they have and the distance the structure extends. They hang onto cave walls in such vast abundance, it appears, at first glance, that the cave has been painted black.
Marvel at St. Michael's Cave
St. Michael’s Cave in Gibraltar dates back thousands of years. This cave seems to posses a magical allure that can’t keep visitors away, as its exquisite formations, massive chambers, and rich history attract over 1,000,000 visitors a year.
In the early 1800's, two soldiers went down to explore this vast cave, but mysteriously vanish within its limestone halls, with their remains never to be found.
Worms That Glow in the Dark
The tides of certain oceans are crowded with phosphorescent bacteria that glow near the surface, mesmerizing all who are lucky enough to bear witness. They look almost like stars, glimmering in the night sky, except they are right there in the water around you, clear, close and able to be interacted with. Similar phosphorescent bacteria can be found in deep sea fish, where they are put to work, like those that inhabit the bulb of an angler fish. In New Zealand, a similar phenomenon can be found lining the ceilings and walls of caves.
If you take a kayaking trip through this cave in Waitomo, New Zealand, you will likely encounter this natural magic; and don’t be surprised if these luminous little objects move! The sweet little things that inhabit this cave system, believed to have been formed some 30 million years ago, are actually worms. They dangle casually from the ceiling, waiting for their next meal.
Caves of Ancient Death
If you’re into adventure movies of the Indiana Jones variety, or have ever wondered if the prehistoric tribal stories of human sacrifice are true, a cave located in Northern Ireland will certainly pique your interest. It holds relics suggestive of human sacrifice that have been preserved up to this day.
Locked in its dark chambers are human bones, creepy sights of human heads on pikes, and other rarities. A rather common sight, as you traverse the cave’s winding ways, are pits full of discarded human remains. Charming. These caves are part of the larger Smoo Cave, and getting there requires the full suite of adventuring and spelunking skills. The terrain is hard to navigate and, human sacrifices aside, may not be for everyone.
The Aquatic Salamander
Scientists say the creatures that thrive underground are much harder to distinguish from each other compared to those that live on the surface. With less variety in their conditions, the distinctions they have evolved aren’t as sharp. They tend to be unusually shaped, and their features develop according to the extreme conditions of subterranean environment, so the deeper a cave goes, the weirder they get.
The aquatic salamander is one weird creature that lives in the caves of Slovenia and Croatia. It is blind, breeds and swims underwater, a palish pink critter. It uses its electro-sensation to master its environment, and it can live for more than a hundred years.