The marble caves in Chile are among the many natural wonders throughout the world. These four-story caves are equally fascinating to researchers and tourists due to their amazing formations, and surrounding scenery. While many people appreciate the beauty of the caves, most do not know a lot about them. Below are eleven facts about these mazy, fascinating and colorful caves, that form part of the unique landscapes Chile is famous for.

UPDATE: 2022/12/06 12:39 EST BY JAMES KARUGA

11 Exciting Facts About Marble Caves, Chile

Chile is endowed with many unique attractions that came to being due to acts of nature. The Marble Caves are among the attractions worth visiting while in Chile. So we've updated this article to make it more accurate and clear, to help readers make informed decisions if they plan to visit the Marble Caves.

11 Marble Caves Structures

The Marble Caves have three magnificent structures that compel people to visit Chile in order to see them. These structures are the cave, the cathedral, and the chapel. These different structures are all fascinating, but also look very different from each other. Visitors can easily tell each structure by observing them.

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10 Marble Caves Location

These amazing works of nature are in General Carrera Lake, shared by Chile and Argentina. The Marble Caves are on a peninsula of marble on the border of the lake, and are like a natural void filled with just marble. These naturally sculpted caves are made completely of marble and are believed to have been formed by the lake's waters. To visit the caves visitors must be in Chile because that is the side the marble caves are located.

9 Exploring The Marble Caves

Marble Caves water pathways are narrow and can only be explored by small boats or kayaks. Tour operators in the tiny, remote town of Puerto Rio Tranquilo nearby, provide kayaks and boats. Chilean travel experts advise that the best time to visit the marble caves is from November to February, because the melting ice makes the pristine water enchanting turquoise.

8 Marble Caves Color

One of the most amazing things about the marble caves is their ability to change colors depending on the seasons. These color changes also depend on how high or low the water is because the marble colors reflect from the water. Since the glaciers do not melt until the months of November through February, the water is not as high and that makes the colors a lot less vibrant. Visitors that go in the spring will notice softer or navy blue hues, compared to when glaciers melt, and the colors range from cobalt blue to white and to pink.

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7 Composition Of The Marble Caves

While these caves are called the marble caves, they are actually made up of 95% calcium carbonate from the General Carrera Lake. The marble caves' minerals got eroded by water long ago to form them. Ocean waves lapping at the calcium carbonate over 6,000 years is what made these beautiful structures look as they do. These giant pieces of nature are also estimated to weigh around 5.5 billion tons.

6 Marine Life In Marble Caves

Since the marble caves are in a lake, there are several marine species surrounding them. These include several fish species although trout and salmon are many and many lush marine plants and other aquatic life. These species thrive because the environment around the lake, tends to stay more sunny and warm, and the cooler waters allow the fish to thrive.

5 Exploring The Marble Caves

While touring, the Marble Chapel at the entrance is the first of the three islets visitors see. The other sections, including the Marble Cathedral, soon follow as visitors continue to paddle inwards with boats or kayaks. The complexity and beauty of the different sections of the caves enchant visitors as they proceed further. As visitors paddle inside of the marble caves it appears like they are "being swallowed" up by a mystic crypt.

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4 Marble Caves Formation

Marble caves were formed with several different elements working together, but the primary one was water. The waves slowly lapped at the calcium carbonate rock which slowly eroded it away. Other elements like wind and forms of bad weather helped speed up the erosion process. This caused the many holes and crevices and the amazing features visitors see in the marble caves today.

3 Marble Caves Future

Due to weather elements, these magnificent wonders will eventually be destroyed. The worst part is that the elements that made the marble caves will destroy them. The constant lapping of water waves at the calcium carbonate rock is slowly eroding it away, putting it in the path of imminent destruction.

2 Marble Caves Regulations

Visitors are prohibited from taking anything from the Marble Caves. There are many parts of this natural wonder tempting for visitors to take as mementos like a piece of marble. The only things visitors should leave with are pictures and a sense of wonder at this magnificent wonder of nature in Chile.

1 Traveling To The Marble Caves

To get to the Marble Caves, visitors can take a flight from Santiago, Chile's capital to Coyhaique city. From Coyhaique city visitors can take a car drive to General Carrera Lake which is about 117 kilometers away and takes nearly two hours. Visitors are advised to wear clothes suited for rain while coming for a visit to Marble Caves.

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