Andrey Grachev's photos provide a rare glimpse inside the frozen grotto on a Olkhon Island at Lake Baikal. Many adventurers have fallen through the ice but he ignored the dangers to capture the cave in a beautiful sunlight. Andrey, from Moscow, found hundreds of icy stalactites and huge blocks of blue ice, known as ice hummocks.
These photographs of a Siberian ice cave set against the rising sun were snapped by a fearless photographer who risked his life on a frozen lake to capture the breathtaking images. Andrey Grachev’s photos provide a rare glimpse inside the frozen grotto, but he had to travel across cracked ice that could give way at any moment. Even though many adventurers have plunged through the ice in the past, the 35-year-old ignored the dangers to capture the cave in a beautiful golden sunlight.
Russian photographer Andrey Grachev risked his life on the frozen lake to capture breathtaking images of the ice cave at sunrise
Andrey's photos provide a rare glimpse inside the frozen grotto, but he had to travel across cracked ice that could give way at any moment
When the 35-year-old entered the frozen cave he found large ice stalactites, or icicles, descending from its ceiling
Andrey captured magical images of huge blocks of blue ice, known as ice hummocks, which glistened like precious stones
Even though many adventurers have fallen through the ice in the past, Andrey ignored the dangers to capture the cave in a beautiful sunlight
Andrey, from Moscow, and local guides safely crossed Lake Baikal, where around 50 cars are still waiting to be plucked from the frigid water
‘On the Maloe More Gulf, an area that is between the island and land, there are still more than 50 cars waiting to be lifted out of the water.
‘The danger comes from the ice's ability to move which results in some pretty wide cracks. Sometimes these ice hummocks can be longer than two metres wide.
Andrey said the sound of ice cracking underneath his feet was unnerving but he got used to it as it was a regular occurrence.
Despite the dangers Andrey said the opportunity to photograph the spectacular ice cave was 'well worth the risk'
Local guides stand around a pile of freshly caught fish during their journey to Olkhon Island at Lake Baikal in Eastern Siberia
