Laichinger Tiefenhöhle

The Laichinger Tiefenhöhle is Germany's deepest show cave and the only vertical cave open to the public and is one of the Most Beautiful Caves in Germany. This cave has few formations, but it offers an interesting view of a Jurassic ocean. The cave's entrance, located on the Schwäbische Alb plateau (Swabian Jura), is in a relatively small area of dolomite CaMg(CO3)2. In some ways, this rock is to blame for the cave's discovery. This rock's weathering produced fine sand, which can be found in cracks and caverns between the rocks. This is the only source of sand on the Alb plateau: because there is no water on the surface, there are no river or sea sediments that could contain sand.

To explore the world of the Laichinger Tiefenhöhle, visitors must descend 55 meters (180 feet) deep into the ground via several flights of stairs. It is Germany's only open pit cave and is comprised of a complex network of tunnels, shafts, and halls. Between March and November, tours take visitors on a journey to discover fossilized reefs and bizarre limestone deposits.

Location: Höhleweg, Laichingen, Germany