Cueva de los Cristales (Naica)
verified
Ungraded
Unknown flood risk
Naica, Chihuahua
Naica is home of a giant crystal cave like no other that, some say, resembles Superman den from the comics and movies. The mine complex that owns the caves allows public to visit the crystal caves for a fee.
Before the 2015 reflooding, air temperature inside reached 58 degrees Celsius (136 Fahrenheit) at 90 to 99 percent humidity, hot enough that unprotected visitors could last only about ten minutes. The largest selenite crystal measured 11.4 meters (37 feet) and an estimated 12 tonnes. Miners discovered the chamber in April 2000; it has been underwater again since operations ceased, so none of it is currently visitable regardless of the closure.
Logistics
| Manager | Industrias Penoles (mining company) |
|---|---|
| Permit | The mine and cave are owned and operated by the mining company Industrias Penoles. The cave has been closed to public visitors since October 2015, when the mine was allowed to flood again after operations ceased; only occasional scientific access has occurred since. |
| Coordinates | 27.853261, -105.495943 |
Sources
- permitType: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_the_Crystals
- permit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_the_Crystals
- manager: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_the_Crystals
- nearest town: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_the_Crystals
- notes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_the_Crystals
- heroPhoto: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cristales_cueva_de_Naica.JPG