The Dachstein Cave World and its three natural show caves rank among the most significant natural monuments of Austria. About 200 million years ago the warm primeval ocean Tethys formed, extending directly over where today's huge Dachstein massif is rising. In the course of millions of years calcite precipitation and shells secreted by marine organisms were deposited on ocean floors forming a calcite stratum, 1.000 m deep. This sea was also home to ‘megalodonts', heart-shaped shells and today the Dachstein massif is famous for these fossils which are due to their shape referred to as ‘cattle footprints' ("Kuhtritte"). The Dachstein massif is a result of continental drifts causing the tectonic uplifting and folding of the calcite stratum. Water enriched with carbon dioxide infiltrated through surface cracks and crevices dissolving the limestone (calcite) and consequently forming caves which developed huge extensions in the course of time.
Tours in 8 languages
Tours through the ice and mammoth cave will become even more exciting and interesting with the Audio-Guide-App! Download the free "Audio Guide for your Smartphone" using the QR code via WiFi. The points for the languages English, French, Japanese, Mandarin, Czech, Italian and Hungarian can be found in the base and middle stations (access to the Cave Worlds) of the Dachstein Krippenstein cable car - and if you do not have headphones for your smartphone with you, you obtain a disposable headphone for €1 at the base station. We hope you enjoy your journey of discovery through the impressive Cave Worlds of the Dachstein.
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