Cave of crystals

[DesertFox]

Until you notice the orange-suited men clambering around, it's hard to grasp the extraordinary scale of this underground crystal forest.

Nearly 1,000 ft below the Chihuahua Desert in Mexico, this cave was discovered by two brothers drilling in the Naica lead and silver mine. It is an eerie sight.

<img src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/10/28/article-1081072-02441A96000005DC-634_634x421_popup.jpg" width="600" height="398" />

Up to 170 giant, luminous obelisks - the biggest is 37.4ft long and the equivalent height of six men - jut across the grotto like tangled pillars of light; and the damp rock of their walls is covered with yet more flawless clusters of blade-sharp crystal. ...

Because the crystals resemble giant icicles, the picture suggests it must be very cold inside the Cave of Crystals - but appearances can be deceptive.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/10/28/article-1081072-02464596000005DC-280_636x944.jpg

In fact, the temperature is a sweltering 112F, with a humidity of 90-100 per cent.

This is why cavers wear protective suits and carry backpacks of ice-cooled air.

Linkeroozie (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1081072/Pictured-The-Cave-Crystals-discovered-1-000ft-Mexican-desert.html)

[DesertFox]

Somewhat astounding, wot?

[DoctorDoom]

"Now, my own suspicion is that the universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose."
-- John Burden Sanderson (JBS) Haldane

Could it be that someone has discovered Superman's Fortress of Solitude?

[Franko]

Top pic looks suspicious to me, not that I don't believe such a place is possible, but I'll let it go . . .

[2thePoint]

Where's all the light coming from?

Anyway, there's a National Propagandic article about it here (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/04/photogalleries/giant-crystals-cave/).

[BuckeyeMike]

It doesn't look quite right to me either! Also, the picture of the guy standing alone in the National Geographic article.....isn't wearing one of those orange suits....Thought that was required because of the heat and humidity. First picture of all the people in orange suits....looks photoshopped! Maybe it's just me. Dunno!

[DesertFox]

Actually, those are little, tiny atomic-sized men, skating around on shards of busted mirror reflecting white light.

[Franko]

The top pic just looks a little 'staged', that's all.

[gnome]

It's a breathtaking picture... my gut says real...

[Franko]

my point was not if the place was real or not, my point was the picture looks staged. I've been around professional photography for over 35 years.

[Teenager]

my point was not if the place was real or not, my point was the picture looks staged. I've been around professional photography for over 35 years.

It definitely looks staged to me too. I think the reason why is because the two men in the middle are trying to "help" each other up one of the crystals... Just something about the way they are trying to help each other...


Regardless, those pictures are breath-taking!