AMAZING UNDERGROUND WORLD of CEROVACKE CAVES - Croatia, Velebit

Have you ever walked through the underground and visited the beautiful world of caves? It is breathtaking . One enters in the world of sacred dreams and pure natural magic, full of miracles, where the only artist is Mother Earth who shapes the most amazing sculptures with the endless creative power, without any tool then pure energy of love.

There is no museum in this world which can offer so much beauty as amazing galleries created by pure natural forces, which we can find everywhere around, if we travel just few miles away from our crowded cities and artificial way of life.

All the prints of my photos are available for sale in my online gallery: http://tatianamichaela.redbubble.com

Cerovacke caves are world famous and for sure the most beautiful caves in Croatia.

They are part of mountain Velebit, in the area named Lika, Zadar county, near little town Gracac.

Caves of Cerovac consist from three different levels, which were first thought be be 3 different caves, but they are connected with several shafts, so this is actually one very big cave on 3 levels. Upper and lower parts are partially open to public. They were found around 1913. They are at least 4 kilometres (7 miles) long (actually they are much longer, because speleologists often discover some new parts of them so it is unknown how big they really are).

Lower Cerovacka cave (which I still did not visit) was permanently inhabited in prehistoric times, for Upper one it is said that was used just like temporary shelter for people and animals from ancient times. Due to the amazing beauty of this cave and its connection with lower parts, I would not be surprised that our ancestors were using it like sacred place for performing rituals.

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This is one peace of pottery left from old tribes - Illyrians, who lived on this area more then 3.300 years ago and used this cave as shelter, while there were traveling around this teritory.

It is so touching to be in contact with the peace of human history, on the place where it was made and used.

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Cerovacke caves have the most gorgeous decoration made mainly from limestone, many parts of them are still very alive and active (so not open to public). They consist from corridors which lead to the various halls where natural forces formed the most interesting groups of sculptures. These groups of sculptures as well as individual ones, look like real people or other living beings, so whoever sees that must become aware that nature created them intentionally. They very often represent people gathering together (f.E one hall is named "Stone Wedding Celebration" , the other "Cathedral" ) or show various other non-human creatures, some parts look exactly like other planets... creative inspiration of nature is limitless...

Like I mentioned before, groups of sculptures so often represent gathering of the people on some happenings, their celebrations, rituals, you can see couples, families, friends...

If you look carefully. you can see that limestone is often creating various situations in everyday human life.... human happiness and lonelines, pain and joy of human existence. Every sculpture has its deep symbolic meaning.

When I was there I realized that in the very alive and meaningful shapes of these sculptures one can read the various parts of our human history (or/and future) as well as history and future of our planet and solar system.

This whole universe is connected, we are sparkling parts of the same creative force which bonds us together from the beginning of time.

Can you imagine how special gift is to drink the pure water directly from the generous lap of Mother Earth? This small lake in the heart of cave, gave me few sips of clear water of life, and I drunk it with deep respect, pure love and gratitude.

There is saying in my country, in which I deeply believe, that whoever drinks the pure water in some area, with open heart, stays forever connected with that place. In this magical cave, there is so easy to connect the soul with the mighty creative power of Nature, and stay in love with it - forever.

So many parts of cave look like completely another planet somewhere far from the Earth.

I always wanted to visit another galaxies, while visiting Upper Cerovacka cave, my wish finally started to fulfill....

Many interesting creatures are formed in the cave limestone....

You can find there natural sculptures of tigers, bares, mushrooms, octopuses, jellyfishes...imagination and creativity of Nature in Cerovacke caves is really special. These are for sure one of the most beautiful caves in the world.

This cave is full of surprises, on every step your eyes can discover some new miracle, some new creation, which you could otherwise see only in your dreams.

I hope these photos inspired you to visit secret world of caves, here or anywhere else in the world - such experience change us forever: creative forces of our planet are always more powerful and more beautiful then anything else we try to create with our hands and tools.

All the prints of my photos are available for sale in my online gallery: http://tatianamichaela.redbubble.com