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In the city of Hamburg lived a wise and curious man named Professor Otto Lidenbrock. He was a geologist who loved studying rocks and minerals. One day, while going through an old Icelandic book, he found a secret piece of paper with strange runic letters. His nephew, Axel, who lived with him, noticed that the message was written backward. After reading it carefully, they discovered that it was written by an ancient Icelandic scholar named Arne Saknussemm. The message claimed that he had traveled to the center of the Earth through a volcano in Iceland. The professor was thrilled and decided to follow the same path. Axel, though frightened, had no choice but to go along with his uncle.
They quickly packed scientific instruments, food, and weapons for protection. They traveled to Copenhagen, then by ship to Iceland. There, they met a quiet and strong guide named Hans, who knew the mountains well. Hans agreed to go with them on their dangerous journey. The professor told Axel that they would enter the earth through the crater of Mount Sneffels, a great volcano that had long been quiet. After many days of climbing, they reached the top of the mountain. There were several openings, but according to the old message, they had to wait for the sun to cast a shadow on the right crater to find the correct entrance.
When the time came, the shadow pointed to one crater, and the professor shouted with excitement. They began to descend into the dark opening. At first, they went down narrow tunnels filled with rocks and dust. As they went deeper, the light faded, and they had to use torches to see. The air became cooler, and the sound of dripping water echoed around them. Axel became frightened, but his uncle’s excitement grew stronger. They continued downward for days, climbing down steep slopes and crawling through narrow paths. Sometimes they had to stop to rest and eat. Axel often wished to go back, but the professor was determined.
One day, Axel got separated from his uncle and Hans. In the dark tunnels, he lost his way and called out loudly, but no one answered. He felt hopeless and frightened. His torch was dying, and he sat in the darkness, crying. Suddenly, he heard faint sounds—his uncle’s voice calling his name. They shouted back and forth until they found each other again. Axel was overjoyed to see them. After that, he promised to be more careful. They continued their journey downward, and soon they began to find strange signs that proved Saknussemm had been there before—marks carved into rocks.
After traveling for many more days, they came to a deep hole. The professor threw a torch inside and saw it was endless. Hans made a rope ladder, and slowly they climbed down. It took them a long time to reach the bottom. There, they found a narrow passage that led to a huge underground world. The air was heavy but breathable. When they lit their torches, they saw wide caves filled with glowing crystals and shining minerals. They walked for hours, amazed at the beauty around them. Axel could not believe they were so deep inside the Earth.
As they kept walking, they suddenly came upon a vast underground sea. It stretched so far that they could not see the other side. The professor named it the “Lidenbrock Sea.” The roof above them glowed faintly with electric light, giving the place an eerie day-like glow. There were also clouds floating in the air, making it look like a sky. The professor decided to build a raft using tree-like plants they had found. Hans built the raft skillfully from wood-like materials, and they loaded it with their tools and food.
They began to sail across the underground sea. The journey was calm at first. They saw strange fish that had no eyes, and creatures that seemed to belong to an ancient world. Sometimes they heard distant roars that echoed through the vast space. One day, a great storm struck the sea. Waves rose high, and lightning flashed above them. The wind pushed their raft far from its course. Axel and his uncle held tightly to the raft as Hans tried to keep it from breaking apart. The storm raged for hours, and finally, it stopped. When the sea became calm again, they found themselves near a strange shore.
As they stepped onto the shore, they were shocked to see giant mushrooms, ferns, and trees from ancient times. The place looked like the world of dinosaurs. Soon, they saw huge creatures moving in the distance—enormous reptiles fighting each other in the water. Axel watched in terror as two sea monsters battled with their long necks and tails. The professor was thrilled and took notes about what he saw. They realized that deep inside the Earth, life from prehistoric times still existed. They even saw giant birds and animal bones much larger than any known species.
They continued exploring this underground land and found a great forest of huge plants. The ground was warm and soft. They also found the bones of ancient humans and weapons made of stone. One day, they saw a giant human-like figure walking far away. It was like a prehistoric man, tall and strong, holding a stick. They hid quietly and watched in awe. The professor whispered that it must be one of the earliest forms of mankind still living underground. They dared not approach and quietly left the area.
After exploring for days, they decided to find a way back. While searching, they discovered a tunnel that seemed to lead upward. But soon, they were stopped by rocks and lava blocking the way. The professor ordered Hans to use explosives to clear the path. Hans carefully set up the gunpowder, and they hid behind the rocks. When the explosion went off, the ground shook violently. Suddenly, a strong wind pulled them upward through the tunnel as if the Earth itself was pushing them out. They could not stop or control themselves, and the raft broke apart.
They were carried upward through a hot, narrow shaft filled with steam and fire. The heat was intense, and they thought they might die. Then, with a great roar, they were thrown out of the mouth of a volcano. They landed safely on the side of a mountain. When they looked around, they realized they were not in Iceland anymore but in Italy, on Mount Stromboli. The professor laughed loudly with joy. They had entered the Earth through one volcano and come out of another. Axel was weak but happy to be alive. Hans, as calm as ever, helped them down the mountain.
When they returned home to Hamburg, people were amazed by their story. Many did not believe them, but the professor had proof—rocks, plants, and bones from deep inside the Earth. He became famous all over the world. Axel was glad that their dangerous journey had ended safely. Though he never wanted to go through such an adventure again, he felt proud to have seen things no one else had ever seen. Deep down, he knew that the world still held many mysteries waiting to be discovered, and that courage and curiosity could take a person even to the center of the Earth.