At 380 million years, Jenolan Caves are thought to be the oldest visited caves in the world. Around two hours drive west of Sydney, ten caves are open to the public. This photo shows the mesmerising beauty of the Orient Cave visited recently with my close and treasured friend Kath. The cave features three exceptionally featured rooms evocatively called the Indian, Egyptian and Persian Cambers. The formation is appropriately called The Curiosity Shop and includes helictites that are the strange formations that grow in all directions defying gravity (and scientific explanation).
Monday, April 18, 2011
Photo of the Week: The Curiosity Shop (Jenolan Caves, Australia)
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4 comments:
Wow, what a fantastical image, one that does indeed conjure up wonder!While I find caves a little spooky, they definitely evoke a sense of mystery and awe. I went spelunking as a teenager in a cave in rural Shenandoah County Virginia with my brother and other fellow high school students. After repelling down a crack in the earth, we found ourselves in an immense "room" the size of a two-story house, with a "built-in" pool. More recently, my husband and I visited the Cueva de la Pileta in Spain where we saw drawings said to date back 25,000 years. Our guidetold us that an area of the cave was considered sacred and used for ceremonies. Made us connect the dots between the spires of today's churches and the stalagmites. No wonder these geologic formations have been drawing men in for so long! Thanks for sharing all your wonders!
@meg: Limestone caves are fantastical creations and it is no surprise they have been assocaited with mystical powers for so long. I've been to quite a few around the world and I seek them out, amazed by their remarkable beauty and the fact that everyone has their own unique elements and character.
I have been addicted to caves since my parents took me to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky when I was a little girl. They're like the open road - I always get excited when I take a new road for the first time and in caves, there's the mystique of what lies beyond he darkness of the tunnel that stretches off into the distance...
@barbara: I am a huge fan of limestone caves too. I just love the thought that such delicate and remarkable formations have taken many millions of years to form and can result in such a variety of colours, shapes and sizes.
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