Perfect Headquarters No. 1: Cave of Crystals!

What a great hideout!!! I was watching SBS last night and came across Mexico's Cueva de los Cristales (Cave of Crystals) on World News which contains some of the world's largest known natural crystals—huge translucent beams of gypsum as long as 11 meters.  Perfect for feeling superior, plotting the downfall of the world and practicing your manical laughter without tipping off your neighbour as to your occupation.

My Gosh! How did the crystals reach such huge proportions?! I hear you ask? 
Apparently the crystals thrived in the cave's extremely rare and stable natural environment. Temperatures hovered consistently around 58 degrees Celsius, and the cave was filled with mineral-rich water that drove the crystals' growth.

Images from here

Modern-day mining operations exposed the natural wonder by pumping water out of the10 X 30 metre cave, which was found in 2000 near the town of Delicias.  And I am glad to be able to tell you that once scientists and geologists and all the other ‘....ists’ involved in this kind of things have completed their studies the cave will be refilled with water and preserved.  It’s not often that a mining company make me warm and fuzzy...but wonders will never cease....