Caves can often be seen as daunting and dangerous places to explore.
But the Hang Son Doong, in Vietnam, the largest cave in the world, offers untold beauty that is well worth the risk.
The name 'Son Doong' cave means 'mountain river cave'.
Scenic: The colours displayed when the sun shines through are stunning showing off the complexities of the rockworkIt was created 2-5 million years ago by river water eroding away the limestone underneath the mountain where the limestone was weak, the ceiling collapsed creating huge skylights.
It was found by a local man named Ho Khanh in 1991 and was recently discovered in 2009 by British cavers, led by Howard Limbert.
Australian
photographer John Spies, 59, spent a week photographing the natural
wonder and the tourists flocking to marvel at its beauty.
Son
Doong cave is hidden in rugged Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang
Binh province near the border with Laos, the cave is part of a network
of 150 or so caves, many still not surveyed, in the Annamite Mountains.
Vast: The enormity of the cave is displayed perfectly here, as it also shows off a tranquil side to the imposing attraction
Picture this: John Spies transported himself
into another world as he explored the inner workings of the biggest cave
in the world
Lush: The cave holds its own rainforest, supple and fresh greenery serves to keep explorers fresh
Perched: John Spies has some 'down' time...or should that be 'up' as he continues to explore the many facets of the cave
King of the castle: The cave holds its own, magnificent story and was said to have been discovered by a local man in 1991
Maintained: Some of the world's rarest rocks are found in the Vietnam cave, the formations of which are simply spectacular
Wow factor: Explorers marvel at the beauty of the cave that has been officially recorded as the biggest in the world
Son
Doong cave is more than 200 meters wide, 150 meters high, and approx
nine kilometers long, with caverns big enough to fit an entire city
street
inside them.
To
get a sense of the enormity of the cave, that's as wide as two football
pitches and slightly longer than the distance of Buckingham Palace to
the Olympic Park.
Son Doong is hidden in rugged Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh province near the border with Laos.
Tthe cave is part of a network of 150 or so caves, many still not surveyed, in the Annamite Mountains.
Idyllic: The cave offers tourists the perfect getaway, with this area looking more like a beach than a cave
Shimmering: Views like this are unlikely to be reciprocated elsewhere, with this chamber looking like it's made of gold
Contrast: The Hang Son Doong translates into the mountain river cave, and it's clear to see why
Epic: This rock looks like a giant hand, while right, the scale of the site is demonstrated perfectly
Awe: Your friends would be impressed if you took them on a camping trip like this, and right, a river flows within the cave
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