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Mysterious Caves Gallery

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The marble landscape of Takaka Hill is riddled with caves, many of which were lethal traps for flightless birds such as the moa. Their skeletons have been found at the bottom of vertical cave entrances as in this example of a moa leg bone being uncovered for the first time. Image: Julian Thomson.

Takaka Hill...

This large cave entrance is part of the Oparara Arches near Karamea. The Oparara River has cut its way through the 34 million year old Oligocene limestone that outcrops in the area. Image: Julian Thomson.

Oparara Arches

Natural Bridge near Waitomo. Image: James Crampton.

Waitomo

In the karst topography of the Craigmore Plateau in southern Canterbury, sink holes produce a polygonal pattern of adjoining depressions. Image: GNS Science, Lloyd Homer.

Craigmore P...

Many New Zealand caves were traps for moa. The bones of these now extinct birds have been found at the bottom of vertical shafts where they were unable to escape. Image: GNS Science, Julian Thomson.

New Zealand...

Aragonite cave formations, Kahurangi. Image: Neil Silverwood.

Aragonite C...

Cave passage, Kahurangi. Image: Neil Silverwood.

Cave Passage.

Delicate straw formations in Hollywood Cave. Image: Neil Silverwood.

Delicate St...

Enormous collapse chamber (100 m long and 40 m high). Image: Neil Silverwood.

Enormous Co...

Exploring an underground stream near Charleston. Image: Neil Silverwood.

Underground...