What is the name of the giant crystal cave discovered beneath Naica, Mexico?
Answer
Cave of the Crystals
Answer
Cave of the Crystals
The giant crystal cave beneath Naica, Mexico, is called the Cave of the Crystals.
The chamber contains enormous selenite crystals, a transparent-to-white variety of gypsum. Some crystals reach about 12 meters in length, making the cave one of the most spectacular mineral environments ever documented. The crystals grew exceptionally slowly in hot, mineral-rich groundwater over a very long period.
The cave was discovered in 2000 by miners working at the Naica Mine. Conditions inside are extremely dangerous: temperatures can approach 50°C, and humidity is close to saturation. Visitors require specialized cooling and breathing equipment, and the cave is not a normal tourist attraction. Selenite here means crystalline gypsum, not the unrelated Moon-associated name sometimes confused with it.
Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026