Eisriesenwelt is a natural limestone cave and ice on the mountain Hochkogel located in Werfen, Austria, about 40 km south of Salzburg. It is the largest ice cave in the world, with 42 km length, visited by about 200,000 tourists each year. The mountain, one of the massive Austrian Alps, is the largest karst plateau in the Alps of Salzburg, and Eisriesenwelt Cave is located on the edge of the plateau. Although the cave has a length of 42 km, only the first mile, tourists are allowed to visit, which is covered in ice. The rest of the cave is formed of limestone.
Eisriesenwelt was formed by the Salzach River, which has eroded mountain passes. Ice formations in the cave were formed by thawing snow which drained into the cave and froze during the winter. Since the entrance to the caves is open all year round, in winter the winds blow in the cave and freeze the snow inside. In summer, a cold wind from inside the cave prevent melting ice. The cave is open to visitors, from May 1 to October 26, from 09:00 to 16:30 in July and August, from 09:00 to 15:30 in May / June and September / October. Temperatures inside the cave are usually below freezing, and warm clothes are recommended. Photographs are not permitted inside the cave. The final stop of the tour is the Ice Palace, one kilometer into the cave and 400 meters deep. From there, visitors should turn back to the entrance. The tour and back to the cave lasts about an hour and 15 minutes. satellite positioning
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