Manjanggul: Lava Tube Caves

On Thursday afternoon we explored the world's longest system of lava tube caves. These elaborately textured caves were formed back when Hallasan was still an active volcano. The floor of the cave was wet and held the impression of the wet lava from so many years ago. The walls of the cave had intricate patterns and textures that varied with the flow and temperature of the lava. The ceiling was very high, and at times made us feel like we were in some kind of underground cathedral.
Unlike the caves in Barbados (which is also a volcanic island) that were studded with waterfalls, stalactites, and stalagmites, these caves were darker, more open, and marked with the distinct traces of lava. For me, these caves evoked legends of underground snakes, thoughts of subterranean cathedrals, and wonder at the creation of this island (that, relatively speaking, was not so very long ago).