Summer has officially arrived, but when the sun's heat becomes too unbearable, the beach is not the only option for cooling off. In fact, you can escape the crowds altogether and take a trip to these mystical ice caves that offer cool temperatures year round. There's no reason to feel like a sweaty pig all summer long, when the natural chill of the following geological wonders provide such an ice-cold atmosphere even when the mercury rises past any point of comfort.
Slovakia: Dobsinska Ice Cave
Why stick your head in the freezer when you can stroll into a naturally cold icebox?
The Dobsinska Ice Cave's atmosphere is so cold year-round, visitors are almost slapped in the face by its brisk air from the moment they walk inside. But depending on how hot it is during May to September, you'll appreciate the cold air flowing throughout this geographical phenomenon. That is because the temperatures of the cave can decrease to as low as 26° F because of the thick mounds of ice encompassing its jagged walls and dripping down its ceiling, forming huge columns and stalagmites in the process.
As the biggest ice cave to grace the country of Slovakia, Dobsinska Ice Cave's 110.132 m3 of icy décor is worth every bit of discovery. There's no reason to complain about the heat when Mother Nature has created an ice box that thrives in the summertime - so bundle up.
Austria: Nature Ice Palace
Until its discovery in 2008, the Nature Ice Palace was a vision sheltered by Austria's Hintertuxer Glacier. However, you'd want to conceal its sparkling beauty too if you saw the dazzling chandeliers of ice stalactites hanging from the ceiling as well as a glacial lake and waterfalls all frozen in time. In fact, you may think you've stumbled upon the palatial home of an ice princess by the way the sunlight illuminates this ice cave in wonderful shades of blue.
Boasting an average temperature in the mid-20s, visitors can venture into this glittery paradise from the highest point of the glacier, which is about 200 meters from the ice cave's entrance. The Nature Ice Palace is open all year round, making it the perfect location to find refuge when the sun's rays are a bit too hot.
Austria: Dachstein Ice Cave
Not all summer concerts involve rocking out in the sweltering heat. Some involve shivering in the cold as goose bumps begin to form on your legs and arms.
If you find this hard to believe, you'll want to pay Austria's Dachstein Ice Cave a visit, especially during the month of August. The chambers of ice decorating the cave produce their own acoustics, and when musical instruments are intertwined with the cave's atmosphere, it is music for the ears. For this reason, many art enthusiasts flock to Dachstein to partake in "Ice Sounds," which is an annual concert held at the Dachstein Ice Cave. Along with a riveting musical experience, guests can also take a guided tour through the various ice formations dazzling the spaces of The Castle of the Holy Grail, King Arthur's Dome and more. Even in Mother Nature's icy touch, her unearthly sounds and sights are fascinating wonders to behold.
Alaska: Mendenhall Ice Caves
Although many claim this glacial marvel is slowly melting away due to climate change, it offers a hiking adventure unlike any other ice caves of their kind that you won't want to miss. The underground world of the Mendenhall Ice Cave is a frozen sea of ice that is constantly transforming.
Nevertheless, the ice caves are a big hit all year long as hikers congregate beneath its frozen décor to witness their geological features. Venturing to the Mendenhall Ice Caves is not for the weary at heart since hikers will be submerged about 150 feet deep, but with 12 miles of different ice formations to explore, you'll want to capture every inch of its beauty before it mysteriously vanishes from the face of the earth.
Canada: Booming Ice Chasm
Nestled just below the Canadian Rockies, the Booming Ice Chasm is one of the most unique locations to witness what happens when cool air is trapped in an enclosed space. That said, hikers who've ventured into the mysterious cave felt as though they were hoisted mid-air because of the large patches of ice placed at its doorway like a welcome mat.
However, you may not feel as though you are cordially invited to explore its icy halls by the difficult measures it takes to navigate through the Booming Ice Chasm. And as an extra thrill, when ice falls it creates a loud noise that echoes throughout the entire cave. But if you can ignore the sudden eruptions of sound, Booming Ice Chasm might just be one of the most spectacular underworld ice caverns to grace the earth.
New Zealand: Fox Glacier
Even New Zealand provides an escape for travelers wanting a relief from the heat. The Fox Glacier reigns supreme for travelers seeking an extraordinary adventure amid the air-conditioned breezes of a glacier. In fact, during June to September, trekkers can face the extreme temperatures while climbing through thick patches of ice on their way inside this remarkable frosty tunnel.
And once they are in the presence of its sparkling formations of ice clenching onto the cave's entire spaces, they'll be in for one eye-popping show that only nature's frozen particles could provide. Helicopter rides called "helihikes" are also available for venturing into the Fox Glacier, which promises to be an adventure you will never forget.
Topics From This Article to Explore
