Grotta del Bue Marino, Limestone cave in Cala Gonone, Italy.
Grotta del Bue Marino is a limestone cave system extending over ten kilometers into the Sardinian coast with multiple chambers and underground lakes throughout. The interior features natural formations carved by water and sculpted walls across its passages.
The cave was inhabited by humans in prehistoric times, with wall paintings found in its chambers suggesting ritual activities in ancient days. These artworks reveal how people used the space long ago.
The cave takes its name from Mediterranean monk seals that once lived in these waters, called sea oxen by local people. This connection to marine life still shapes how the place is understood today.
Access is only by boat from Cala Gonone, Santa Maria Navarrese, or Arbatax, as the cave sits right along the coastline. Guided tours cover about one kilometer of the passages, allowing visitors to see the main features comfortably.
Inside the cave sits a subterranean beach where fresh water streams meet salt water, creating unusual patterns in the rock walls. This spot shows how two different water systems meet and mingle in one space.
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