21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Crystal formations inside a delicate underwater cave

This is the only place on the planet where these crystal roses has been found. They formed when this Bahamian cave was dry tens of thousands of years ago. The pinkish-red color comes from Saharan dust that blows across the Atlantic from Africa and seems into the ground then builds up inside these crystals. It's an extremely delicate area of the cave and usually in complete darkness. When your light hits the formations they sparkle with different colors and we carefully lit this area to showcase the beauty inside the earth.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 05.2021
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Abaco, Bahamas
Camera: NIKON D850
Copyright: © Becky Schott