List of caves in Spain facts for kids

Spain is a country in Europe known for its beautiful beaches, mountains, and rich history. But did you know it's also famous for its amazing caves? These underground wonders are like hidden worlds, full of fascinating rock formations, ancient art, and even underground lakes. Many of these caves are very deep or very long, and some even hold secrets from thousands of years ago!

Famous Spanish Caves

Spain is home to many incredible caves. Here are some of the most well-known:

• Cave of Altamira: Located in Cantabria, this cave is super famous for its incredible paintings made by people during the Stone Age, called the Upper Paleolithic period. These paintings are thousands of years old!
• Cuevas del Drach: You can find these caves on the island of Majorca. They are special because they have one of the biggest underground lakes in the whole world! You can even take a boat ride on it.
• Gruta Helada de Casteret: This is a unique cave made of limestone that is filled with ice! It was discovered by a famous explorer named Norbert Casteret and his family.
• Ojo Guareña: This is a giant underground system of caves in Burgos. It's one of the longest cave systems in Spain, like a huge maze hidden beneath the ground.

Deepest Caves in Spain

Spain has some incredibly deep caves, which are often explored by expert cavers. Here are a few of the deepest known caves in the country:

• Torca del Cerro del Cuevón - Torca de la Saxifragas in Asturias: This cave goes down an amazing 1,589 meters! That's like going down more than 150 school buses stacked on top of each other.
• Sima de la Cornisa - Torca Magali in León: This one is 1,507 meters deep.
• Sistema del Trave in Asturias: This cave system reaches a depth of 1,441 meters.
• Gouffre de la Pierre Saint-Martin (partly in France and Navarre, Spain): This cave is 1,410 meters deep.
• Sistema Arañonera in Huesca: This system goes down 1,349 meters.
• Illaminako Ateeneko Leizea in Navarre/Huesca: This cave reaches 1,340 meters deep.
• Sima del Sabbat in Huesca: This one is 1,327 meters deep.
• Sistema del Jitu in Asturias: This system is 1,264 meters deep.
• Torca de los Rebecos in Asturias: This cave goes down 1,255 meters.
• Pozo del Madejuno in León: This cave is 1,252 meters deep.

Many other caves in Spain also reach depths of over 500 meters, showing just how much is hidden beneath the surface!

Other Interesting Caves

Beyond the deepest ones, Spain has many other fascinating caves:

• Caves of Monte Castillo: This is a group of caves in Cantabria that are very important. They include:
  • Cave of El Castillo
  • Cave of Las Chimeneas
  • Cave of Las Monedas
  • Cave of La Pasiega
• Las Caldas cave: Found in Asturias, this cave is a special place where scientists have found ancient tools and signs of human life from the Stone Age. It's also a nature reserve.

Caves as UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Some caves in Spain are so important that they are recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. This means they are considered very special and need to be protected for everyone to enjoy.

• Cave Art of Northern Spain: This site includes the famous Altamira cave and many others in northern Spain that have amazing ancient art.
• Cave Art of Iberian Mediterranean Basin: This refers to rock art found in caves and shelters along the Mediterranean coast of Spain.
• Cave Art of Siega Verde: This site in Castile and León is known for its outdoor rock art, showing animals and symbols carved into the rocks.

See also

In Spanish: Grutas en España para niños

• List of caves
• Speleology