Editing Eisriesenwelt (section)

==Geology==
[[File:EisriesenweltRockLayer.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Layers of zebra limestone under the cave]]
The Tennengebirge mountains, part of the Austrian Alps, were formed during the late Tertiary period, shaped significantly during the Würm glaciation of the Pleistocene epoch. This range, one of the massifs in the Niedere Tauern, is home to the largest karst plateau in the Salzburger Alps. The Eisriesenwelt lies at the edge of this plateau.

While the cave spans an impressive 42 km, only the first kilometer, open to tourists, features stunning ice formations; the rest consists of limestone passages. The Salzach River carved the cave's intricate pathways through erosion, while its ice formations developed from melting snow that seeped into the cave and froze in winter.

The cave’s unique climate helps preserve its icy wonders. In winter, frigid winds enter the cave and freeze the snow. During summer, cooler winds from inside flow outward, preventing the ice from melting. This natural phenomenon keeps Eisriesenwelt a year-round marvel.