1. Moldova is a constantly developing destination that can offer extraordinary travel experiences for any type of traveller, especially those who have a sense of adventure, curiosity, and the desire to discover something new.

2. Emil Racoviță Cave is located next to Criva Village in the north of the Republic of Moldova and is the third greatest gypsum cave in Europe and the seventh greatest gypsum cave in the world. It was discovered in 1959 after an explosion at the gypsum quarry in Criva.

3. Locals used to call it Cinderella, but in 1991, the cave was renamed in honour of the well-known Romanian scientist, explorer, and speleologist Emil Racoviță.

4. Even the most experienced researchers are challenged by the complex and winding galleries of the cave, which form a real labyrinth. The galleries and labyrinths are storeyed in 3-4 levels and grow larger in some places, forming large halls. The galleries are connected to one another through narrow passageways, sometimes so narrow that a man of average height could hardly pass through them. There are eleven impressive columns that support the ceiling in the waiting hall. The majority of halls have a vaulted ceiling in the Gothic style, with a height of about 11 meters. Most of the ceilings and walls in the cave imitate mosaics due to the shapes that appear as a result of gypsum crystallization. The tunnels are 60 to 100 metres long and 30 to 40 metres wide. There are some wells found in the galleries.

5. In the karst gaps, there are over 20 lakes with a depth of not more than 2 m and a constant temperature of 8 to 11 °C. The largest are Dacians’ Lake, Green Lake, Blue Lake, Dinosaurs’ Lake, and Nautilus Lake, which were called like this by the speleologists who discovered them. The hydrochemical analysis revealed that the water in the lakes is rich in mineral salts that are beneficial to the human body.

6. Each underground hall and gallery is padded with fine argil in a variety of colours due to the mineralization: green, blue, red, black, and white. The cave hides unique mineral structures, such as huge, amber-coloured selenite crystals. The largest gypsum crystal in Europe, with a volume of nearly 3 cubic metres, is found inside the cave.

7. The amateur speleologists made strange figures out of argil on particular ungrounded routes that serve as indicators for different halls and labyrinths.

8. Exploring the cave, you’ll experience a burst of emotions as though you have travelled back in time.