At the top of the earth's crust are cavities that connect to the surface. These are caves, they consist of a complex system of walkways and halls. Speleologists study caves. There are several species, but karst are most often found. They are the longest and deepest. This type of cave is formed when water dissolves some rocks. Therefore, they are formed where deposits of soluble rocks are located.
The longest cave in the world is in the USA. Many caves have water: streams, rivers, lakes, and even waterfalls. Most have air and are breathable. Some go sightseeing groups.
We present to you the 10 longest caves in the world: a list of natural underground passages of the globe that are stunning with their beauty.
List
- 10. Holloch, 201 946 m
- 9. Lechuguilla, 222 572 m
- 8. Gua-Air-Jernich, 227 009 m
- 7. Wind, 237 716 m
- 6. Shuangheedong, 238,479 m
- 5. Optimistic, 257,000 m
- 4. Oaks-Bel-Ha, 270,200 m
- 3. Jewel, 310,732 m
- 2. Sak-Aktun, 346 740 m
- 1. Mamontova, 651 784 m
10. Holloch, 201 946 m
In the northern spurs of the Glarn Alps, in Switzerland, is the longest cave in Europe. It's a cave Helloch. Its depth is also impressive, it is 939 m.
The cave was discovered in 1875. She has two entrances. The second, upper entrance was opened not so long ago, in 1980. The lower part of the cave is accessible to visitors. In summer, there are severe floods, so a significant part of the tunnels remains under water.
9. Lechuguilla, 222 572 m
In the Guadalupe mountain range, in the United States, more precisely in New Mexico, is the Carlsbad Caves National Park. There you can see not only one of the longest, but also the deepest caves in the USA. it Lechuguilla. Until 1986, this cave was called Misery hole («Hole of misery"). Once it was a small well, the depth of which did not exceed 25 m. Having descended into it, you could get into the system of passages, which stretched for 120 m.
In 1984, cavers received permission to excavate, and two years later a new part of the cave was discovered. Now it is also called as the canyon on which the entrance is located. He got this name due to the widespread species of agave - Agave lechuguilla.
This cave is unique, characterized by a variety of crystalline mineral deposits. Some of them are amazing, for example, giant plaster “chandeliers” up to 6 m in size.
You can learn more about the cave by watching the BBC documentary from the series "Planet Earth", in the 4 series "Caves" it is also said about Lechugilje.
8. Gua-Air-Jernich, 227 009 m
In the Kalimantan mountain range, in the territory of Malaysia there is a cave Gua Air-Jernich. It was discovered in 1978 by English cavers. It has many entrances, you can get to the main one by boat on the river.
This is a multi-storey cave system located in limestone. It is considered the longest in Asia. In total there are 5 levels, on the lower of which a cave river flows.
7. Wind, 237 716 m
In the Black Hills mountain range, in the USA, in South Dakota, you can admire the cave Wind. It is known since 1881, formed in limestone under the influence of thermal waters. This is a voluminous labyrinth in which there are many galleries. Wind Cave is rich in minerals.
Its natural entrance is small in diameter, only 0.35 m. In order for tourists to visit the cave, an additional mine was cut. Now everyone can visit it, going down into the depths of the cave by elevator. It constantly organizes excursions.
But those who would like to take a walk for a walk along its tunnel should grab warm clothes, because there is always a cold wind blowing. Even the name Wind cave can be translated as "Cave of the wind". It is thanks to the wind that unique deposits of calcite have formed here, which are interwoven into incredibly beautiful patterns. In 1903, the cave territory became a national park.
6. Shuangheedong, 238,479 m
In the Suiyang Mountain Range, located in China, in Guizhou Province, there is an extended cave system - Shuang hedong. Her research has been ongoing since 1987. During this time, more than 20 expeditions from various countries visited, including Japan, France and, of course, China.
The cave appeared in plaster and dolomites. At least three rivers flow here, which form waterfalls and lakes. They are home to fish and shrimp. Some of the fish weigh more than a kilogram. In the cave you can find salamanders, frogs of various insects, including spiders, as well as bats.
5. Optimistic, 257,000 m
In the Podillia mountain range, which is located on the territory of Ukraine, you can visit the cave with an interesting name "Optimistic". It is one of the longest gypsum caves in the world. Until now, it has not been fully studied.
The cave was opened in 1966. She was discovered by accident. In 1965, cavers from the Cyclops Club examined the Vetrovaya Cave, located near the village of Korolyovka. They turned their attention to a creek going underground. Cavers returned to this place a year later, examined 400 m of the cave. Further study showed that it is one of the longest known caves.
The name “Optimistic” arose because skeptical colleagues called them optimists. After that, there were more than 200 expeditions. In the cave you can admire the stalactites, helictites. Its passages lie approximately at a depth of 20 m.
4. Oaks-Bel-Ha, 270,200 m
In the Tulum massif, which is spread across the vast expanses of Mexico, in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula, there is a cave Oaks Bel Ha. Its name translates as "Three ways of water". This is a huge underwater cave system, refers to the karst. It was opened in 1996.
The peculiarity of this cave is a huge number of entrances, at least 140. Until now, it has not been fully examined, but more than 80 branches have already been discovered. Getting into it is not so easy, because all the courses of Oaks Bel Ha are flooded, and some underground currents connect to the Caribbean Sea.
Only divers can explore it. These underground currents have a huge impact on the flora and fauna, thanks to them you can meet exotic plants.
3. Jewel, 310,732 m
In the Black Hills massif, located in the United States, in South Dakota, you can see the karst cave Jewel, or, as it is also called, Jewel. She has only one natural entrance. There are strong winds, the speed of which reaches 15 m / s. All cave galleries are covered with a layer of calcite, the thickness of which reaches 17 cm. Because of this, it has an unusual appearance.
It was discovered in 1900, and 8 years after the opening, it became a national monument. Researchers Albert and Frank Michaud wondered where the howls of wind came from, and found a small hole in the canyon.
Despite the fact that it was discovered long ago, its large-scale study began relatively recently. If you wish, you can go down to it and examine everything yourself, because excursions are organized here. An artificial entrance was made for visitors, and part of its galleries and walkways were equipped with bridges.
2. Sak-Aktun, 346 740 m
In the Tulum Mountains, in Mexico, an incredibly huge cave Sak-Aktun. It is almost all flooded with water. The cave system is located in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula. To prove that she was such a huge size was not easy.
Other cave systems were explored, and over time it became clear that they all connected with Sak-Aktun, which became one of the longest caves in the world. Its name translates as "White cave».
It is a bewitching sight: clear water, in which catfish, piranha swim, surrounded by unusual stalactites. There are many huge Goliath spiders and bats. There is a special tourist route for those who would like to see all this with their own eyes.
1. Mamontova, 651 784 m
The longest cave is located in the Appalachian massif, in the USA, it is called "Mamontova"Refers to karst. It was formed in a layer of limestone. Until now, it has not been completely investigated, only 587 km were examined, where they found about 20 large halls and as many deep mines.
It’s so called because in English, the word mammoth can also be translated as "huge". It was because of the size that she got this name.
The cave was discovered in 1797, but up to this point there were people in it, Indian mummies were found there. It has a rich history, for several centuries it has changed several owners, and in 1941 it was possible to create a national park.