The summer scenery of jingpo Lake not only includes the clear lake surface and majestic waterfalls, but also the volcanic crater underground forest, a billion-year-old geological secret. It is hidden deep in Zhangguangcai Ridge in the northwest of jingpo Lake. It is a natural wonder gifted by the volcano. It complements the lake surface, waterfalls and diving performances, forming a panoramic picture of jingpo Lake in summer.

crater underground forest

Crater 1

Fog Cave: A mysterious and mysterious place in the fog-locked secluded courtyard

The fog cave is a natural cave formed by the collapse of a lava tunnel. It is hidden deep in the underground forest and is the most lively scenery in summer. The cave is oval in shape, about 5 meters high, 20 meters wide, and nearly 300 meters deep. Due to the low temperature and high air humidity inside the cave, a gauze-like mist hangs around the entrance of the cave all year round, forming a unique landscape of "the fog disperses when people enter, and the fog follows when people retreat". In midsummer, the heat outside the cave is unbearable, but inside the cave there is a breeze, the mist flows in the light and shadow, the moss on the rock wall is glowing with a warm luster, and the sound of footsteps is intertwined with the whisper of water vapor in the cave. It is like stepping into a fairyland, quiet and mysterious, showing the ingenuity of nature.

fog cave

Ancient Ice Cave: A magical secret place hiding ice in midsummer

The Ancient Ice Cave, also known as the Shenshui Cave, is the most contrasting wonder in the underground forest. Even in the scorching summer heat, the cave is still bone-chilling and frozen like jade. It is also formed by the collapse of a lava tunnel. The entrance is oval, 6-10 meters high and about 30 meters wide. There is a half-moon-shaped shallow pool inside the cave, which is formed by the infiltration and accumulation of surface water. Due to the long winter in the Jingpohu Lake area and the permafrost underground, coupled with the poor air convection in the cave, the pool water freezes all year round and does not melt in summer, forming a fantasy scene of "hidden ice in midsummer". Stepping into the cave, the cold air hits your face, and the ice is crystal clear, like an underground crystal palace. It is in sharp contrast with the lush forest and warm summer sun outside the cave, showing the magic and unpredictability of the volcanic secret realm.

ancient ice cave

Lion Cave: A lava cave guarded by lions

The Lion Cave is located between craters 3 and 4. It was formed by the cooling and solidification of volcanic eruption magma. It is named because the boulder at the cave entrance looks like a male lion with its head raised. The interior of the cave is open and wide, with dangerous rocks on the top hanging in the air, and jagged rocks on the ground, covered with lava cakes and volcanic bombs left over from volcanic eruptions. The layers are stacked on top of each other, engraved with traces of volcanic activity. The plank road in the cave is winding. As you stroll along, the folds of the rock walls hide the vicissitudes of time. The light and shadow shine through the entrance of the cave, contrasting with the rugged rocks. It has the majesty of the lava tunnel and the tranquility of the natural cave. It is like an underground cave guarded by lions, telling the legendary story of the symbiosis of volcanoes and forests.

The Lion Cave