Forests of rock :Reveal the towering arches and pillars of limestone which dominate ancient lands

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• published: 06 Jul 2014
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Forests of rock: Awe-inspiring images reveal the towering arches and pillars of limestone which dominate ancient lands of China Jaw-dropping limestone 'karsts' soar hundreds of feet into the air across a vast region of southern China Arches, spires and pillars were formed over 270million years and conceal some of the world's largest caves below Landscape is being documented in unprecedented detail by a British-led team of cavers and explorers Hewn ruthlessly from the earth by water over 270million years, these stone structures are a testament to the power of the natural world. The pillars, arches and columns rise hundred of feet into the air over a vast region of southern China, striking awe into observers who have flocked to the area for thousands of years. China's Stone Forest is one of the largest, with huge arches which once belonged to cave systems but now protrude awkwardly above the lush green hills around. Covering an estimated half a million square kilometres, south China's is one of the largest and most significant in the world. While limestone structures are common, only in a humid, tropical environment can there be enough movement of water to create such dramatic change, and form structures which have earned the South China Karst recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But just as with an iceberg, what can be seen in these photographs is only the tip. The flowing water has not only carved up the landscape above the ground, but has also transformed it below. South China is home to some of the largest caves in the world, which even now are still being mapped and explored by researchers from around the world. Heading the charge is a team led by Andy Eavis, the chairman of the British Caving Association who has been traveling to China for more than 30 years. He and his explorers have used pioneering laser scanners to map the complex, unstable systems in unprecedented detail, including the Miao Room of the Gebihe cave system - since confirmed as the second-largest known cavern in the world. Despite its entrance from the outer world comprising just a narrow, unobtrusive gap in stone in the forest, it has a maximum height of 627 feet. The cavern must be explored in hostile conditions - including high humidity and a lack of any natural light - using a mixture of computer technology and old-fashioned caving bravery. With fissures and sharp points of rock, a wrong step could mean injury or death, and the cavern is so large it could fit a fleet of jumbo jets with plenty of room to spare. Other caves are less formidable. In one part of the region, an entire village of 21 homes - with no need for rooves - is situated inside a cavern together with a primary school, a basketball court, and an increasing stream of tourists. More still have been made safe for people to explore without the risk of losing their hats. It is not all work and no play for the explorers. Some feature in these photos, where they take time off from their caving work to ascend the other side of China's fantasy landscape. That is despite there being far more tourist-friendly ways to ascend the limestone structures, which are mainly in China's Yunnan, Guizhou and Guangxi provinces. One, the Great Arch in Ziyun Getu He Chuandong National Park, includes a glass elevator which delivers the less intrepid to the foot of the arch so they do not have to climb. It is a vision of the future - and it's predicted the caves will be next. With China becoming one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, tourists from other parts of the vast nation are already streaming underground - though how long it will take to install a glass lift there remains to be seen om the July issue of National Geographic magazine. Forests,rock,Awe,inspiring,images,reveal,towering,arches,pillars,limestone,dominate,ancient,lands,China,trip to china, trips to china, china trip, china trips, trips in china, trip china, my trip to china, trip in china, trips china,news science,china tourist attractions, tourist attractions in china, china s tourist attractions, tourist attraction in china, china tourist attraction, china tourist attractions top 10, tourist attractions china, tourist destinations in china, tourist spots in china, top 10 tourist attractions in china