Gruta de las Maravillas, Show cave in Aracena, Spain.
The Gruta de las Maravillas is a show cave beneath the town of Aracena, stretching approximately 2,130 meters through multiple levels of underground chambers. Visitors walk through a network of halls where mineral deposits hang from the ceiling and rise from the floor, while underground pools mirror the formations above.
Workers discovered the cave in 1850 during mining activities, revealing an extensive karst system. The site opened to visitors in 1914, becoming one of the first tourist caves in Spain.
The cave holds traces of prehistoric human presence and contains underground lakes that reflect the mineral formations on their surfaces.
The temperature inside stays between 16 and 19 degrees Celsius (61 to 66 degrees Fahrenheit) throughout the year, so a light jacket is helpful. Guided tours last around 45 minutes and follow a lit path through the main chambers.
The cave consists of three superimposed levels, formed over millions of years through the dissolution of limestone. These stacked galleries create a natural layered structure beneath the surface.
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