Just watch out for Morlocks
Posted 01.20.2010 at 4:55 pm
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Cave of Crystals: Spelunking never looked so good BBC
See those little dots climbing the crystals that look like ants? Those are people.
Casual spelunkers can't enter the cave without risking their lives, unless they have the right breathing mask and cooling suit. Stifling temperatures of 122 degrees F combined with almost 100 percent humidity posed a deadly challenge for early explorers. Such conditions mean that every breath can lead to fluid condensing inside the lungs, which represents a less-than-ideal scenario for continued breathing.
But the cave's wonders prove alluring once you get past the dangers. The BBC's new series "How the Earth Made Us" accompanies Iain Stewart, a geologist at the University of Plymouth in the UK, on a trip into the Naica silver mine.
Take a good look at the footage below, because the Cave of Crystals is destined to disappear once the mine owners decide to end operations and pull out their pumps. Then the mines and cave alike will flood once more.
[via BBC]
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Inb4 fortress of solitude.
They're lucky superman wasn't home when they were there.
I don't think Superman would Survive in "Stifling temperatures of 122 degrees F combined with almost 100 percent humidity" his body is adapted to Earthly breathing LOL!
He's flown to space, escaped a black hole, and can hold his breath for 8 hours.. I'm sure he can survive in his fortress of solitude.
"www.killermovies.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-320479-superman-in-space.html"
explains it all lol.
Only if them's kryptonite crystals.
whether on not he would theoretically be able to survive would depend on which particular interpretations you went with...
but man I gotta say, those images are quite amazing!
I wonder what it costs to run the pumps, air condition the place and put in some ramps and railings you could have a nice tourist attraction. btw goku > superman
That is unbelievable. I wish I could go see it. Beautiful, like walking in a giant geode.
did anyone notice that guy put his bare hand on one (and probably dozens) of the crystals.... if it were anything like a general stalactite/stalagmite cave, the formation would be scarred from the oil on his hands...
It's a good thing they plan to let it flood again so it can continue growing...
...except for those he touched.
@animemaster
agreed Goku>superman
his power level is over 9000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There is a huge incentive to overcome the problems that make it inhospitable. If they pumped in cooler ambient air from the surface, hot air would exit at speeds faster than the air that is pumped in; the hot humid air exhaust could be used to power co-generation systems that use both the temperature differentials and the flowing air. The electricity it could generate would be self-sustaining, and if it is in an arid region, the ultra-humid exhaust would cool, yielding water for irrigation if it is not too salty, alkaline or acidic.
The mine could have an air conditioned tube that escorts tourists to the chamber, which could hopefully sustain a small community. I can imagine the tourists that would want to visit would outnumber those to see Carlsbad Caverns and many other natural attractions.
Over time, perhaps the temperatures and humidity could drop sufficiently to allow tourists without protective suits and/or tubes; if not, it could go on for decades, producing energy, water and/or minerals; in either scenario, there is much to be learned here. Between energy generation, tourism, research, minerals, gems and water byproducts, there is great potential for this cave.
WOW --- It looks like a Meth cave .
Ha ha ha, hoping Superman doesn't go too close to those crystals.
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