Dachstein Giant Ice Cave

The Dachstein Giant Ice Cave is a natural wonder located in the Dachstein Mountains, a mountain range in the Austrian Alps. The cave is part of the Dachstein Salzkammergut UNESCO World Heritage Site, which also includes the nearby Hallstatt Lake and the historic town of Hallstatt. The cave is open to visitors from May to October, and offers a unique experience of exploring the frozen world of ice sculptures, stalactites, stalagmites, and ice crystals.

History

The Dachstein Giant Ice Cave was discovered in 1910 by two Austrian explorers, Anton Posselt and Alexander von Mörk. They were amazed by the size and beauty of the cave, which extends more than 42 kilometers and has several chambers and passages. They named it the “Eisriesenwelt”, which means “world of the ice giants” in German. The cave was first opened to the public in 1928, after a road and a cable car were built to facilitate access. Since then, the cave has attracted thousands of tourists every year, who marvel at the spectacular ice formations and the changing colors of the light.Dachstein Giant Ice Cave, with its three natural exhibition caverns, is regarded as one of Austria’s most noteworthy natural sights.

Formation

The Dachstein Giant Ice Cave is a dynamic ice cave, which means that the ice inside the cave is constantly changing due to the air circulation and the temperature fluctuations. The cave has two entrances, one at 1,418 meters and one at 1,458 meters above sea level. The lower entrance acts as a cold trap, allowing the cold winter air to enter the cave and freeze the water that seeps through the cracks and fissures in the limestone rock. The upper entrance acts as a warm trap, preventing the warm summer air from entering the cave and melting the ice. This creates a stable layer of cold air inside the cave, which preserves the ice throughout the year.

The ice formations in the cave are mainly created by two processes: sublimation and deposition. Sublimation is the process of ice changing directly into water vapor without melting. This happens when the air inside the cave is dry and the temperature is below the freezing point. Deposition is the process of water vapor changing directly into ice without condensing. This happens when the air inside the cave is humid and the temperature is below the dew point. These processes create various shapes and structures of ice, such as columns, curtains, needles, and crystals.

Tour

The tour of the Dachstein Giant Ice Cave takes about an hour and covers a distance of about one kilometer. The tour starts at the middle station of the cable car, where visitors have to walk uphill for 20 minutes to reach the entrance of the cave. The tour is guided by professional guides, who explain the history, formation, and features of the cave. The tour is also accompanied by a light show, which illuminates the ice formations with different colors and effects.

The tour consists of several stations, each with a different name and theme. Some of the most notable stations are:

The Ice Palace: This is the first station of the tour, where visitors enter the cave and see the first ice formations. The Ice Palace is a large chamber with a high ceiling and a floor covered with ice. The ice here is about 25 meters thick and has a blue-green hue. The Ice Palace also has a large ice column, which is the oldest and thickest ice formation in the cave. The ice column is about 15 meters high and 8 meters wide, and has a reddish-brown color due to the iron oxide in the rock.
The Ice Chapel: This is the second station of the tour, where visitors see a smaller chamber with a lower ceiling and a more intimate atmosphere. The Ice Chapel is named after the ice formations that resemble religious symbols, such as crosses, altars, and candles. The Ice Chapel also has a small ice organ, which is a series of ice stalactites that produce musical sounds when tapped by the guide.
The Ice Lake: This is the third station of the tour, where visitors see a large chamber with a flat floor and a smooth ceiling. The Ice Lake is named after the thin layer of ice that covers the floor of the chamber, creating a mirror-like effect. The Ice Lake also has a large ice curtain, which is a wall of ice that hangs from the ceiling and reaches the floor. The ice curtain is about 10 meters high and 15 meters wide, and has a white color due to the air bubbles in the ice.
The Ice Bear: This is the fourth station of the tour, where visitors see a small chamber with a sloping floor and a curved ceiling. The Ice Bear is named after the ice formation that resembles a bear standing on its hind legs. The ice bear is about 3 meters high and 2 meters wide, and has a brown color due to the clay in the rock. The ice bear is one of the most popular attractions in the cave, and visitors often take photos with it.
The Ice Castle: This is the fifth and final station of the tour, where visitors see the largest and most impressive chamber in the cave. The Ice Castle is a huge chamber with a dome-shaped ceiling and a floor covered with ice. The ice here is about 30 meters thick and has a blue color due to the light reflection. The Ice Castle also has several ice formations, such as pillars, arches, bridges, and towers, which create a fairy-tale-like scenery. The Ice Castle is the highlight of the tour, and visitors often feel awe and wonder at the sight of it.