Amazing caves from
around the world
FINGALS
CAVE
WHERE: Scotland
CAVE TYPE: Sea cave
CLAIM TO FAME: Acoustics
If you travel to the uninhabited island of Staffa, you can
view this amazing natural phenomenon that was formed
by lava flow in the volcanic region. The cave is filled with
‘steps’, which are naturally-formed columns of basalt
that have been fractured. The cave is suspected to
once have been connected to Giant’s Causeway off
the coast of Ireland. As a result, it is the subject
of Irish legend. Many famous people have
visited the cave, from queens to
poets and composers.WAITOMO
CAVES
WHERE: New Zealand
CAVE TYPE: Solutional
CLAIM TO FAME: Glow worm grotto
The caves were formed some 30 million years ago under
the sea. As a result, there are fish skeletons, coral and
seashell fossils in the limestone. The caves are not home
to many animals, but they do have a fair few insects –
albino cave ants, giant crickets and, most famously,
glow worms. These tiny creatures are bioluminescent
in their larval stage and glow blue-green.
Tours take you on the underground river to
view the glow worm grotto – an
amazing sight!Nature
“I wish I was a glow
worm, a glow
worm’s never
glum. ‘Cause
how can you
be grumpy,
when the sun
shines out your
bum?”The glow worm
larvae glow to
attract prey, which
they catch in silk
nets that they
produce.