A cave new world: Amazing underground rock formations that look like an alien world seen for the first time

By Mark Prigg

With towering rock formations and stunning light effects, it could easily be mistaken for an alien world.

In this amazing set of images, the experts are dwarfed by towering rock formations rarely ever seen.

The amazing caves are in Obir Tropfsteinh in Eastern Austria.

Scientific instruments measure dripping water inside a small grotto in an astonishing new cave system in Eastern Austria.

Explorations into the cavernous caves hundreds of feet beneath the surface have begun in a bid to uncover information that may help solve issues surrounding climate change.

The scientists are also painstakingly mapping the movement of water through billions of years of rocks in the Alps of Austria.

They use a fluorescent dye which can be traced through the underground reservoirs to the source.

Dr Gina Moseley ascends a rope pitch inside Glocken Schacht, one of many cold caves in Tirol, Austria.

British photographer Robbie Shone plunged hundreds of feet into the ground to accompany the scientists as they navigated the maze of giant crystals and rock formations.

Robbie, 32, from Manchester, said: 'Caves are difficult, unforgiving and arduous environment. The cave is black with no light so you have to mind where you step.'

Despite the dangers, Robbie crawled through cracks int he caves to capture the stunning images.

He added: 'People are amazed at the pictures because the majority can never imagine themselves going down into a cave themselves and are gobsmacked when they see what lies beneath their feet.

'Caves are very rarely seen in this way as the cave explorer only uses a small head torch to illuminate the way ahead, not the big flash lights we use to make the pictures.'

Lush green vegetation engulfs the entrance as Dr Gina Moseley climbs a rope out of the cave in Austria.

Unique marble inside Spannagel, a cave on the Hintertux Glacier above Mayrhofen, Austria.

Pure untouched formations inhabit crystal clear waters inside Katerloch cave Eastern Austria.

The Katerloch cave in Eastern Austria.

PhD student Susanne Brandstutter admires the unique marble inside Spannagel, a marble cave up on the Hintertux Glacier above Mayrhofen, Austria.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2175880/A-cave-new-world-amazing-underground-rock-formations-photographed-time.html#ixzz21JFu8fp3