Huge cave. Where is the largest cave in the world Sondong
The largest caves on the planet amaze with their grandeur, which can bewitch anyone. It is terrible to look into the trap of a huge cave. It seems that it is impossible to get out of this place back. This mysterious separate world of silence and silence is able to suck any careless tourist into its expanses.
Expeditions to explore the most difficult caves began in the 18th century. A well-known scientist at that time, I. Nagel, led the largest expedition to the caves of Moravia. During the expedition, the group reached a depth of 138 m.
A large amount of knowledge about underground depths was introduced by M. Lomonosov. Explanation of the chemical nature of caves - Lomonosov's theory. The movement of air at the depth of caves and the formation of stalactites and stalagmites, as well as the formation of ice in caves - this knowledge is the merit of our scientist.
Absolutely all caves are different from each other, but they can be safely attributed to the list of the most unusual places on the ground. The presence of wells, lakes, grottoes, waterfalls and glaciers are those elements of the caves that create the overall picture and make certain differences.
Caves are a natural underground cavity accessible to human penetration. They are the object of study of the science of speleology. It is speleologists who make the greatest contribution to the study of caves. Some of the creations of nature amaze with their beauty, others with bizarre shapes, and others with their size. The top 10 includes the largest caves in the world in terms of length, volume or area occupied.
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Optimistic cave (Ukraine) opens the top ten largest caves. It is also the longest gypsum cave in the world. The explored area is 230 kilometers, but the cave itself is much longer.
The rest of it has not yet been studied by researchers. The optimistic cave was discovered in 1966 by Lviv speleologists. Initially, it was assumed that its length was not more than 3 meters, but further persistent research showed that the cave is one of the longest in the world.
It got its name due to the fact that skeptical speleologists to explore the cave called Lviv residents optimists. Since then, more than 200 expeditions have been made here.
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Sarma Sarma (Abkhazia) is included in the list of the deepest caves in the world, which is located in the Arabica mountain range. It was discovered in 1990 by Sergei Shipitsin. The entrance to it is located at an altitude of 2150 meters above sea level.
The maximum known depth of Sarma is 1830 meters. The cave is formed by limestone and gypsum rocks. Many speleologists took part in her research. Among them are Pavel Rudko, Evgeny Koreshnikov, Vladimir Plotnikov, Alexander Osintsev, Vasily Sukhachev, Andrey Zakrepa, Rafail Safin, Anatoly Bezverchiy, Alexander Verbitsky, Artem Kalachev and many others.
Krubera-Crow
Krubera-Voronya (Abkhazia) is the deepest cave in the world, known to speleologists. Its depth is 2.2 kilometers, and it is located in the Arabica mountain range in Georgia. The entrance to it is located at an altitude of 2250 meters above sea level. It is a sub-vertical type cave, consisting of a series of wells, which are interconnected by stiles and galleries. Another entrance to Krubera Voronja was opened in 2014 and is located at an altitude of 2253 meters above sea level. At a depth of two hundred meters, the cave branches into the Main and Nekuibyshev branches, which are the main ones.
Then there are many not so big branches. Krubera-Voronya was first discovered in 1960 by a speleological expedition of the Institute of Geography. Vakhushti Bagrationi AN GSSR. In 2014, a team of speleologists opened a new entrance, located above the main one, which made it possible to set a new world record for the depth of the cave system, which became equal to 2199 meters.
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The Lebanese great caves are among the most magical caves on earth. The upper cave was discovered in 1836, the lower one much later - in 1958.
The length of the cave is 2250 m.
Jeita is very popular among tourists, who have the opportunity to visit only part of the cave 700 m deep, the rest of the path is blocked.
The upper cave has 3 halls and special underground reservoirs. Stalagmites and stalactites also adorn the view of the Lebanese cave.
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Sac Actun (Mexico) is one of the largest caves in the world, almost completely flooded with water. Also included in the list of the longest caves in the world.
Its total length is more than 317 kilometers, of which only 5 kilometers are not flooded. Speleologists began to study it in the second half of the 20th century.
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One of the most beautiful places on our vast planet is located on the border of Chile and Argentina in the Patagonian Andes. The fabulous creation, which was created by nature itself, is located in South America in one of the deepest lakes in the world - Buenos Aires.
The locals majestically call it the Marble Cathedral, but in many tourist brochures it is referred to as Las Cavernas de Marmol or the Marble Caves of Chile. This is the most striking and memorable attraction of Patagonia, which is visited annually by tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world.
The pristine beauty of blue-blue rocks, shimmering in crystal clear waters Lake, according to most travelers who saw this miracle of nature, makes you believe that heaven on earth still exists. I would like to note that in some sources you can find information that Las Cavernas de Marmol are located in the waters of Lake General Carrera (Lago General Carrera). This is not a mistake or a typo, the whole point is the territorial location of the marble caves: General Carrera is the Chilean name, Buenos Aires, as you might guess, the Argentinean.
The intricate labyrinths of the Marble Caves will impress any traveler. The grandeur and some unearthly beauty of the carved marble vaults, which on a sunny day is emphasized by the bright rays of the sun peeping here and there, is a truly unforgettable sight. Reflections of light in the emerald-blue water, as if playing in the lake, create amazing optical illusions every second. That is why the Marble Caves look different on a bright sunny day and in cloudy weather.
The variability of the water level, which is due to the seasonal melting of glaciers, also contributes to the "reincarnation" of the fantastic tunnels of the cave. Travelers who have already visited this amazing corner advise all those who only decide to go to Chile to the marble caves to make their excursion before the start of spring. During this period of time low level The water in the caves allows curious tourists to take pleasure boats provided by local guides and enjoy the splendor of nature inside the caves. A walk under the vaults of the miraculous Marble Cathedral on the water allows you to see this miracle of nature up close, look into the so-called "dark windows" of the cave, more like an endless tunnel. However, who lives there remains a mystery to tourists, because a boat can no longer reach deep into the caves...
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Mammoth Cave (USA) is recognized as the longest in the world. It is located in the US state of Kentucky, in the national park of the same name. Its length is more than 587 kilometers. In fact, the cave is much longer, but researchers have only studied this part so far.
Now in this cave system 225 underground passages and about 20 huge halls are known. It got its name because of its impressive size. Pretty flows in one of the passages major river Echo, whose width is 60 meters and the depth is 10 meters.
Mammoth Cave was formed approximately 10 million years ago. The Indians have known about its existence since ancient times. Subsequently, scientists discovered Indian burials in the cave.
Its discovery by the Americans took place at the end of the 18th century.
It is famous not only for volcanoes and geysers, but also for other amazing natural phenomena!
These are unique ice and snow caves, which are formed by the forces of nature, and are amazing tourist sites!
Photographic tours are held here especially for those who like to make an unforgettable photo frame, it is likely that there is no such spectacle anywhere else in the world!
On the Far East Russia, in the area of the Mutnovsky volcano, in Kamchatka, it was formed under very interesting conditions.
Hot lava flows, ice, geysers and sunlight created a fabulous cave. IN Lately The glaciers on the volcanoes of Kamchatka are melting very quickly, so the upper ice layer of the cave has become very thin. Because of this, bright sunlight penetrates through the layers of ice, creating an incredible glow.
Snow in these latitudes lies from October to the end of May. There is also a chain on the peninsula active volcanoes that make up the backbone of the peninsula.
Interestingly, before the collapse Soviet Union in 1991 Kamchatka was closed to foreigners and most Russians.
At the southern end of the peninsula was based military base of submarines with nuclear warheads.
After the collapse of the USSR, Kamchatka became a popular destination for adrenaline lovers, it especially attracts fans of extreme sports. winter views sports.
Photographers come here in search of amazing shots of untouched nature. Photographer Denis Budko brought to our attention an amazing ice cave, which until recently was hidden from prying eyes under a large layer of snow.
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Caves served as a refuge for man at the dawn of civilization. And today, these underground voids attract brave speleologists who seek to penetrate as deep as possible to the heart of the Earth.
Today's top ten contains largest caves in the world. Two of them are located on the territory of Abkhazia, which allows hundreds of Russian tourists to visit these natural monuments every year.
Optimisticheskaya is the largest gypsum cave in the world. It is located on the territory of Ukraine in the Ternopil region. The cave has not been explored to the end, but the length of the corridors known to speleologists is 230 km.
9. Ox Bel Ha
The name of this system of underwater caves, translated from one of the Indian dialects, means "three ways of water." The system is located in Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula, the total length of the corridors is 256 km.
8 Jewel Cave System
Located in South Dakota, the cave system has a total length of more than 257 km. In the galleries of the cave there are strong drafts, the gusts of which reach 15 m/s. The maximum depth of the cave is 192 meters.
7. Lamprechtsofen
This cave system is located in the Austrian state of Salzburg. Its length is 38 km, and maximum depth- 1,632 meters. It is noteworthy that the practical Austrians built a mini-power plant in the cave, which produces energy from the flow of an underground river.
6. Mammoth Cave
Located in the state of Kentucky (USA), the karst cave is considered the longest in the world. The length of the studied part of the crossings exceeds 587 km. The cave was discovered in 1797. Its maximum depth is 115 meters.
5. Snowy
One of the deepest caves in the world is located in Abkhazia. Its depth is 1,753 meters, and the length of all corridors, sometimes quite low, is more than 24 km. "Snezhnaya" is a system of three caves, which are interconnected without siphons - underwater tunnels filled with water.
4. Skocjan Caves
The cave system, located in the mountains of Slovenia, has a length of 6 km. The height of the arches reaches 50 meters. There are more than 30 underground waterfalls in the cave system, there is also a 15-meter stalagmite, nicknamed the Giant.
3. Sarawak Grotto
Located on the island of Borneo, the grotto is 400 meters wide, 700 meters long and up to 70 meters high. The grotto is part of the huge Gua-Nasib-Bagus cave. Only trained tourists are allowed on an excursion to Sarawak; a visit to the grotto lasts all day.
2. Krubera Cave
It is also called the Crow Cave, and it is located in the Gagra Range in the territory of Abkhazia. The cave has two branches and is the deepest in the world. The depth of the first branch is 2,196 meters, the second - 1,300 meters.
1. Son Doong Cave
The world's largest cave located in Vietnam, 500 km from Hanoi. The height of the arches of the cave is up to 240 meters, the width is 100 meters, and the length of passages and corridors has been studied so far for only 6.5 km. Speleologists discovered the grotto in 2005, although locals have known about Son Doong since 1991.
Our planet is a place amazing wonders And unusual riddles. It would seem that a person has mastered even the most remote corners of the Earth, but at the same time has not discovered all its secrets. In addition to those known to everyone, there is a huge number of man-made and natural objects that amaze the imagination and minds of all mankind. Among them is the largest in a unique formation with its own ecosystem. Let's talk about where it is, when it was opened and how distinctive features possesses.
Shondong: size statistics
Son Doong is the largest cave in the world. A similar statement by local residents was supported by facts obtained by a research expedition from England in 2009. According to dry statistics, the formation has a volume of about 38.5 million cubic meters, a height of about 200 meters, and a width of about 150 meters. Once in such an underground kingdom, willy-nilly, any person can be confused by the grandeur, size and scope.
Discovery history
The unofficial history of the cave begins in 1991, it was from this period of time that the local population mentioned its presence, until specified date no information was provided. At the same time, one should not forget that the underground grotto colossal proportions formed water element for at least two million consecutive years. Evidence of the significant age of the cave are huge stalagmites, as well as other bizarre stone formations.
How to get to the cave?
Where is the largest cave in the world located? Vietnam, Quang Binh Province is the address you will have to follow to visit it. Not far from the border with Laos, in these places there is a national nature Park called Phongnya - Kebang, it is here that a unique natural formation is located. Finding the entrance to the cave is quite difficult, this is due to the fact that it is located in a rather wild area, in the realm of mountains and jungles. Perhaps this fact explains the fact that for a long time the underground formation was not discovered and was not explored even after the discovery at the end of the 20th century. The descent into the ground is carried out by ropes, which is also a rather serious obstacle and test.
Beauty and features of Shondong
What is the largest cave in the world famous for? Photos of education amaze with amazing beauty and scale. First of all, most travelers are in awe of which flows in the bowels of the earth and in the hard rocks of several kilometers. On its shores, the most desperate daredevils even pitch tents, but you won’t be able to enjoy the silence far from civilization either. The splashing of water and the howling of the wind in the bowels of the cave create a frightening atmosphere worthy of any horror movie.
In addition to the river, Son Doong also has its own green spaces, the jungle, in which indigenous inhabitants may also be present. So, here there are various insects and snakes, a little less often birds and even monkeys. A unique feature of the local ecosystem is the unique underground climate. Habitual fogs and clouds are found even underground, which in itself is very unusual and intriguing. In fact, it is explained quite simply, a significant temperature difference between the surface and the underground leads to the formation of clouds and other similar phenomena.
You can visit Son Doong at any time, except for the rainy season. During this period, the caves are filled with water to a dangerous level, which means that visiting them can be extremely dangerous for the life of researchers.
Other contenders for the main title
IN different time The title of the largest cave in the world was claimed by:
Unique world dungeons
Now that you know the name of the largest cave in the world, you can talk about other unique underground kingdoms that are popular with lovers of extreme recreation and unity with nature. So, in the list of the most interesting formations can include:
Kingdom of Ice
The world's largest ice cave is located in New Zealand and has the complex name Isriesennvelt, its area is approximately 300 square kilometers, which allows it to be the absolute champion in its category in terms of dimensions. Beautiful and cold ice formations are found in Iceland (Vatnaekul is forbidden to visit during the warm season due to high risks of melting and collapse), in Russia (grotto in Austria.
film about the cave
Delight and inspiration - this is what causes the largest cave in the world in people. Sanctum, a 2011 science fiction film about a cave, tells the story of a group of explorers descending into the depths of unexplored dungeons. A fierce struggle with a dangerous and unknown element leads to very deplorable consequences, reminding viewers not only of the beauty of the caves, but also of the threat to life lurking in their unknown.
The world's largest cave is currently located in Vietnam, however, research in order to understand our world is carried out regularly and systematically, which means that unique finds will not keep you waiting. It is likely that very soon we will meet new natural phenomena, no less fantastic and beautiful than those already known to mankind.
Cave exploration has been going on for years, expeditions find new and new natural formations. Some caves are recognized as beautiful, others are difficult to pass, there are the largest caves.
The longest cave in Russia
There are many caves in Russia, both dry and flooded. The Botovskaya cave is considered the longest. It is located near the village of Konoshalovo in the remote taiga of the Irkutsk region. To date, more than sixty-eight kilometers of underground passages have been explored, however long time it was believed that the length of this natural object about seven kilometers.It was discovered by chance by a local hunter following the trail of a bear. In this cave there is a grotto in which there are lakes. The uniqueness of the Botovskaya cave is that it consists not only of limestone, as is most often the case in karst caves, but also of sandstone. The type of this object is horizontal.
The cave was first explored in 1947. It has about twelve thousand crossroads, many intricate passages. In 2013, the expedition discovered a map of this cave carved on a stone, which exactly repeats the moves. The size of this "map" is relatively large.
During the study of the passages, it became clear that the Botovskaya cave was visited more than once by researchers of the Neolithic era.
The opportunity to get into the cave appears only in winter, since it can only be reached by a tractor on the ice of the Lena River. The path on the ice is almost ninety kilometers.
But the Orda Cave is recognized as the longest underwater cave in Russia. She is in Perm region eighty kilometers from the city of Kungur and got its name in honor of the nearby village of Orda. It was discovered when the high left bank of the Kungur River collapsed.
Scientists first explored the cave in 1993. It is a plaster horizontal labyrinth. Most of it is filled with water. The length of the cave is four kilometers six hundred meters. Being the largest water cave in Russia, it is in second position in Eurasia.
Large and beautiful caves
Since there are many caves in the world, some of the most beautiful and largest can be distinguished. Such is the caves of Zakynthos, located on the Greek island of the same name. The caves reflect the color of the sky and the ocean. They are also called blue caves. Melessani cave, or as it is also called - the cave of the Nymphs, is also located in Greece. 
In the southwestern part of Slovenia, there are the staggering Škocjan Caves. Underground halls and gorges are immense in form. In fact, this is a whole network of eleven caves.
In Chile Chico are the most beautiful Marble Caves. Surprisingly, they are entirely made of marble. The beauty of the naturally formed caves mesmerizes the visitors who come there.
America has national park with the name "Mammoth Cave". The park was founded in 1941 and is located in Central Kentucky. The cave system is recognized as the longest in the world.
It is impossible not to say about the caves of Cenoty Yucatan. They originated in the Yucatan Peninsula. Even the Mayans considered them sacred.
In 2000, the Crystal Cave was discovered in Mexico. Its second name is the Cave of Crystals. It contains many crystals of huge selenite. You can visit the cave only with special equipment, as it is located at a depth of three hundred meters, and with a humidity of ninety-nine percent, the air temperature there reaches fifty-eight degrees.
The most amazing and unique is the Romanian cave Movile. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it is a closed ecosystem. For five million years, it existed separately from the Earth's ecosystem. This was the reason why dozens of unknown plants and living beings were found in this cave. It was only opened in 1996.
Ila National Park is on the island of Borneo. There is a cave discovered in 1980, reaching a kilometer in length, two kilometers in width, its height is two hundred meters.
There is a cave in the US state of New Mexico large sizes- Big Room (Big room) or "Big room". Its length is five hundred and fifty meters, and its height is seventy-seven meters.
The largest cave in Vietnam
It is in Vietnam that the cave is located, which is recognized as the largest and most beautiful in the world. Its name is Hang Son Doong or Son Doong Cave. The location of this natural object is the province of Quang Binh, five hundred kilometers from Hanoi, near the border with Laos in national park Phong Nha Kebang.Locals have known this huge cave since 1991, and speleologists discovered it in 2009. It was not easy to find her, as she is in impenetrable jungle. Its width is one hundred meters. The length of Shondong has been studied for six and a half kilometers, while in some places the height reaches two hundred and forty meters.
The deepest cave in the world
Among all the caves in the world, the deepest is the Crow Cave or Krubera Cave, located in Abkhazia in the Gagra Range. The cave is branched, it has two branches. The depth of one is one kilometer three hundred meters, the other is two kilometers one hundred ninety-six meters. 
The cave was discovered and explored for the first time in 1960. The last expedition dived in 2012. Each subsequent expedition tries to reach a greater depth than the previous one.
Caves surprise not only with their size, but also with their beauty. But in Russia there are others Beautiful places. .
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