The Candlewax Columns in Dan-yr-Ogof Caves, Brecon Beacons, south Wales, UK
Dan-yr-Ogof Caves is a major tourist attraction in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales. Tourists are able to visit the caves and see many fine cave formations, but beyond the end of the tourist cave lie many miles of passages accessible only to experienced cavers. This formation is known as the Candlewax Columns as the delicate cave straws look as though they are made of dripping candle-wax. Cavers go past this formation while taking part in the classic 'round trip', a caving trip that includes walking, climbing, swimming and crawling and takes even experienced cavers several hours. Dan-yr-Ogof caves were first explored by two local farmers, the Morgan brothers, in 1912, but it was not until the late 1960s that members of South Wales Caving Club explored the passages beyond the dreaded 'Long Crawl', a low passage that ended in a tight squeeze.
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Location: Dan-yr-Ogof caves, Abercrave, Brecon Beacons, south Wales, Powys, UK
Photo credit: © Anthony Baker / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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