Formed about 26 million years ago, the Cave of Crystals in Mexico was discovered in 2000. Credit: Projeto Naica/Reproduction. 
Tiago Robles 06/29/2023 20:17 5 mins
Located in the Sierra de Naica mountain in the Mexican state of Chihuahua Cave of Crystals (Cueva de los Cristales), 300 meters below the surface. It is considered one of the deadliest places in the world. due to its adverse conditions: it has super sharp giant crystals, Temperatures of up to 60°C, Humidity between 90% and 100% It is a extremely acidic environment.
Tourist visits are prohibited.because of Danger of falling crystals and lack of safety in the area. However, persons who are authorized to enter the premises, e.g. B. Researchers, prescribed the use of thermal protective clothing and oxygen equipment, and even then a stay of more than 1 hour on site is not possible.
cave discovery
The cave was occasionally discovered in 2000, during a mining activity in the region. It has a “U” shape, is set in limestone soil and is believed to have been that way Formed 26 million years ago.
Note the size of the person in relation to the crystals in the cave. Photo credit: Alexander Van Driessche/Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0).
miners, above the sunken cave, Using pumps to extract water from the construction site. If the extraction were interrupted, the chamber would refill with water. That’s how it was until the cave was finally drained. But in In 2015, mining activities at the site were discontinued and the pumps that removed the water were turned off, which will cause the crystals to be submerged again in the future. So far the water has not reached the level of the cave.
The cave is such a hostile environment can kill a visitor in as little as 10 minutes if he is not wearing adequate protective equipment Accumulation of fluid in the lungsfor the extreme heat and the acidity of the environment. But of course everyone who gets on there must be equipped with the necessary equipment!
Iain Stewart, Professor of Geology at the University of Plymouth in the UK, who visited the cave in 2010, explained: “(…) When you breathe air, the surface of your lungs is actually the hardest surface. cold like them.” Air finds. It means that Fluids begin to condense in the lungsand that is not good news.”
The sharpest crystals
The cave is directly above a geological fault., meaning there is a magma chamber underneath. Across thousands of years Magma spewed hot, mineralrich water into the cave, while maintaining high temperatures. And it was those environmental conditions that were there Origin of the Crystals. It is believed that this was the case Formed about 500,000 years ago.
Selenite crystals are super sharp and very hot. Credit: Projeto Naica/Reproduction.
Crystals are composed of selenite, translucent and reflect the lightwhy they “moonstones“. These formations are among the largest of their kind ever found in the world. On average, crystals are 6 meters long and 1 meter in diameter the biggest from them It is about 11 meters long and 4 meters in diameter..
They are very hot to be touched without protection and very sharp as razor. In addition to the giant crystals, there are also several smaller crystals that can appear individually or together in blocks. In our eyes a beautiful place, but with some dangers!