The largest caves on earth. Shondong - the largest cave in the world (25 photos). Tourism and attractions Mammoth Cave

Caves - this mysterious and magical world of the dark kingdom, silence and silence. And the caves can rightly be called the cradle of mankind. Indeed, in prehistoric times, primitive people used caves as a refuge from wind and cold. They were the "discoverers" of natural dungeons. The tools and wall paintings of Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons found in caves are proof of this. In ancient times, some caves were considered the dwellings of the gods, others were used to shelter herds and, especially often, for burial. Yes, and in the recent past, there are cases when people who were at odds with society tried to hide in caves.

But even though the cave "cradle" has long been abandoned by man, nevertheless, interest in the dungeons has been preserved for many centuries. From the 18th century, the first expeditions began to explore hard-to-reach caves.

Some historical facts:

In May 1748, the mathematician I. Nagel led an unprecedented descent into the sinkhole of Macocha (Moravia), which was unprecedented for those times. He overcame the steep part of the entrance shaft (50 m) and reached a depth of 138 m. The theoretical ideas of this time were summarized in the book by Cite de la Font "Wonders of Nature" (1788). He believed that underground voids arose "for the most part through fire-breathing mountains," and the deposits in the caves represent "a kind of underground garden." Much closer to the truth were the views of Russian scientists, which unfortunately remained unknown in Western Europe. Back in 1720, VN Tatishchev visited the vicinity of the city of Kungur and pointed out that the caves were the result of "breeding" (dissolution) and collapse of rocks. In 1732, I. G. Gmelin visited Kungur cave and made her plan. He also made the first measurements of air temperature underground.

M. V. Lomonosov made a great contribution to the formation of knowledge about the underworld. He proved that the caves have a physical and chemical nature, explained the formation of "scales" on the walls of the caves by the precipitation of calcite from an aqueous solution, proposed Russian equivalents of the Latin terms "stalactite" and "stalagmite" ("upper drip" and "lower drip"), substantiated causes of air movement underground and the formation of cave ice.

No cave in the world is like another. Huge halls with grottoes, wells, lakes, waterfalls and glaciers.

For millennia, water diligently eroded the stone and created underground labyrinths of the silent world of beauty and mysteries. Seeping into the limestone cracks, rainwater from year to year destroys the stone, increasing the cracks. For centuries, water saturated with minerals, dripping from the ceiling of the caves, forms stalactites and stalagmites, sometimes of such a bizarre shape that they are given their own names.

Calcite in caves can be of the most unusual forms: in the form of flowers, pearls, twigs, sometimes so fragile and thin that they crumble when touched.

To this day, the deep labyrinths of the caves beckon people to plunge into their darkness and uncover underground secrets.

Let us, at least for a while, also plunge into this mysterious world the underworld and get acquainted with its amazing beauties.

Han Son Dung Cave. Vietnam.

Hang Son Dung Cave (Cave mountain river) is located in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, was discovered in April 2009 by British cavers. The cave system was huge. British researchers suggest that this cave is the largest in terms of volume in the world!

In the underground hall of the Hang Son Dung cave, there is enough space even for a 40-story skyscraper. Most Big hall The cave has a total length of more than 5000 meters. The total length of the cave is 9000 meters. The halls and corridors are 100 meters wide and 200 meters high. At the same time, the Deer Cave, located in Malaysia, which is one of the largest caves in the world, has a hall height not exceeding 100 meters and a width of 90.

Hang Son Dong Cave - Jungle Cave! There are gaps in the vaults of the cave through which light penetrates, and as a result, plants grow in the cave - limestone ledges are covered with a carpet of delicate greenery. Following the plants, not only insects and snakes descend into the cave, but even monkeys and birds. The Rao Tuong River has carved tunnels through the hard rock over the centuries. During the dry months, the river becomes a small stream, but during the rainy season, the underground river becomes full again, so that in some places it comes to the surface of the earth.

The most big cave in the world. National Geographic film.

Cave of the Swallows (Sotano de las Golondrinas). Mexico.

Sotano de las Golondrinas or Cave of the Swallows is located in Mexican state San Luis Potosi. The entrance to the cave is a huge hole in the mountain with a diameter of 55 meters. When descending into the mouth of the cave, after a few meters, it expands up to 160 meters, which creates difficulties during the descent and ascent. This is what attracts fans of extreme sports here. The cave is one of the deepest caves in Mexico, its depth reaches 376 meters, which is comparable to the height of a 120-story building. The floor in the Swallow Cave is sloping and has many narrow tunnels and passages that lead to more deep levels. To date, they are not particularly well researched.

The name of the cave was due to the huge colony of swallows that live here. And not to break quiet life birds, descents into the cave are allowed only at certain times: from 12 to 16 hours, when the birds leave it. In addition, it saves not only the lives of swallows, but also lovers of extreme skydiving. After all, a collision with a flock of birds during a free flight is very dangerous.

Recently, the Swallow Cave has become a real Mecca for cavers and base jumpers.

Cave of giant crystals (Cueva de los Cristales). Mexico.

Crystal Cave (Cueva de los Cristales) is located in the Naica mine complex, in the Mexican desert of Chihuahua (Chihuahua) at a depth of 300 meters. The cave is unique in that it contains giant crystals of selenite (a mineral, a type of gypsum). These are the largest natural crystals ever found on the planet - transparent gypsum rays reach sizes of 11 meters in length and weigh about 55 tons.

The cave was discovered in 2000 when a tunnel was being dug in a mine complex. The climate in the cave is unusual - it is very hot in the cave! Temperatures reach 50-60°C with a humidity of more than 90%, a person can stay in such conditions without a special suit for no more than ten minutes. Access to the cave is open only to scientists who explore it in special equipment.

In the cave of crystals. National Geographic film.

The Singing Cave of Fingal. Scotland.

Fingal's Cave is located on the southwestern coast of the Isle of Staffa (one of the Hybrid Islands). The island is only 1 kilometer long and half a kilometer wide. Over many millennia, the surf and rains have carved out a whole system of caves, the largest of which is the singing cave of Fingal, which received its name in honor of the hero of the Irish and Gaelic epic giant Fingal.

The walls of Fingal's cave are made up of vertical hexagonal basalt columns. The cave is 75 meters long, 20 meters high and 14 meters wide. In the Gaelic language, the cave is called Uamh-Binn, which can be translated as "cave of melody". Indeed, thanks to the domed vault, this place has a unique acoustics. In calm weather, the waves of the sea produce peculiar melodious sounds in the cave, in storms and during sea tides - a strong noise that can be heard for several miles.

The cave has a large arched entrance; you can get into it along a narrow path lined with fragments of basalt columns.

Gouffre Berger cave is located on the Sornin plateau in the French Alps. The name of the cave comes from the Latin word "gufr", which means "abyss", and the name of the scientist Joseph Berger, who discovered it in 1953. This is the first cave that has been explored to a depth of more than one kilometer and until 1963 was considered the deepest cave in the world. Its depth is 1271 meters, which is comparable to the height of two Ostankino towers placed on top of each other, and the length of the passages is over 30 kilometers. To date, the cave is the 23rd deepest in the world and the 4th deepest in France. However, to this day it is popular place for speleologists who want to test their skills at a depth of several hundred meters. This cave is technically very difficult. For example, it may take 15 to 30 hours to rise from the very bottom to the surface. In addition, floods often occur here. During the past few years, 6 people have died in Berg, five of whom drowned.

The abyss of the Three Bridges (Three Bridge Chasm) is a limestone cave of the Jurassic period. Into its abyss, from a height of 255 meters, the Baatara waterfall will fall. This unusual place located in Lebanon. It was discovered by the French bio-speleologist Henri Coiffait in 1952. The cave owes its name to the fact that when falling into the valley, the stream passes through three natural bridges, each of which hangs over the other. The age of the cave reaches 160 million years! For thousands of years, the water from the stream slowly washed the limestone and gradually destroyed the vaults of the cave. After the appearance of the upper bridge, it was destroyed for a long time by vertical and ring erosion, which, in combination with a series of collapses, created the middle and lower bridges.

Even today, the formation of the cave is not complete - and it will not be completed as long as the water flows.

Volcanic cave Cueva de los Verdes. Canary Islands (Spain).

Cueva de los Verdes cave was formed about five thousand years ago as a result of the eruption of the Corona volcano. When the lava rushed to the ocean, forming the so-called "lava tube" - a tunnel with a length of more than 6 kilometers, one of the longest on the planet.

The lava flow outside was cooled by the air and solidified, creating the walls and roof of the tunnel, while molten magma continued to flow inside. So it turned out volcanic Cueva de los Verdes cave. The hot gases released from the lava, mixing with air, ignited; under the influence of high temperature, melting the vault, furrows and influxes similar to stalactites appeared on the ceiling of the cave. The remains of the lava, solidifying, formed many folds and wrinkles, decorating the floor of the cave with intricate patterns.

The cave stretched in the form of a tunnel for 6.1 kilometers from the crater of the volcano to the seashore; the difference is 230 meters. The width of the cave reaches 24 meters, the height - up to 15 meters. The air temperature in the cave during the year is kept constant: 19°C.

The cave has two tiers - the upper, more spacious, which has a concert hall with excellent natural acoustics, which is periodically used for its intended purpose.

At the bottom of the cave, called Jameos del Agua, there is an underground lake.

Ice cave Skaftafell. Iceland.

Ice caves are temporary structures that appear at the edge of glaciers. Such caves live for a relatively short time and can be destroyed at any time. Ice caves are only tens of years old. But they look amazing from the inside. One of these caves is located in the Skaftafell Nature Park in Iceland.

Skaftafell Cave was formed in a glacier by melting ice. Melt water, together with rain, collected on the surface of the glacier, rushed into the cracks in streams, penetrating inside and forming peculiar tunnels. Sunlight, penetrating through the thickness of the ice, gives the cave an unusual blue color.

A seven-meter entrance leads to the Skaftafell cave through an ice tunnel, which gradually narrows to 1 meter.

Ice caves are in a state of constant transformation and can be destroyed at any moment. It is safe to visit them only in winter, when strong sub-zero temperatures harden the ice. And even in this case, while inside the cave, you can hear a very frequent crackling sound. This sound does not arise from the fact that the cave is ready to collapse, but because the cave moves along with the glacier itself at a certain speed, sometimes reaching 1 meter per day. Every time the glacier moves in contact with solid rock, you can hear this loud, frightening rattle.

Marble caves. Chile.

marble caves(Marble Caves) - one of the most beautiful places in Patagonia. They are bright blue grottoes filled with water from Lake Carrera (lago Carrera). The lake is

Partially flooded by the turquoise water of the lake, the caves can be explored by small boat or kayak. Three main grottoes can be distinguished in the caves: the Chapel (La capillaries), the Cathedral (El Catedral) and the Cave (Cueva).

Today, this rare and amazing natural wonder is under threat due to plans to build five major dams in the region.

Video. Marble Caves, Patagonia, Chile.

Vardzia is a cave monastery complex of the XII-XIII centuries, located in the south of Georgia, on the border of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Vardzia is a real underground city with many tunnels, stairs and lanes. It is located in the valley of the Kura River (Mtkvari) in the sheer tuff wall of Mount Erusheti (Bear). Inside the rock, there was a place not only for the monastery, but also for several libraries, baths and many residential buildings. A total of 13 levels were built, with natural caves expanded to accommodate 6,000 monks and refugees. There are over 600 different rooms that stretched along the mountain for a distance of more than a kilometer, and the entire underground complex goes into depth rock at 50 meters. Preserved secret passages, connecting the premises, the remains of the water supply and irrigation system.

A bit of history:

The ensemble of the Vardzia monastery was created mainly in 1156-1205, during the reign of George III and his daughter Queen Tamara. Located on the southwestern border of Georgia, the monastery-fortress blocked the gorge of the Kura River for the invasion of Iranians and Turks from the south. At that time, all the premises of the monastery were hidden by a rock, only three underground passages connected them to the surface, through which large detachments of soldiers could appear quite unexpectedly for the enemy. In 1193-1195, during the war with the Seljuk Turks, Queen Tamara was with her court in Vardzia.

The cave city did not last long - a year after construction, an earthquake in 1283 almost completely destroyed it. It was so powerful that it damaged the cave system, causing it to collapse and cascade down Mount Erusheli. Two-thirds secret city were destroyed, revealing a secret world within the mountain. However, the monastery did not give up. It functioned until 1551, but then it was attacked by the Persian Khan Sash Tahmasp, who killed all the monks. It was then that Vardzia became empty.

For a long time cave city was in disrepair, but at the end of the last century Vardzia was restored again, and monastic life resumed in it. On this moment about 10-15 monks live in the monastery of the ancient city.

When compiling the review, photographs from the Internet were used, descriptions were translated from local sites where the photographs were found.

The caves have always attracted with their mystery, uniqueness, as well as original combinations of bizarre statues, often reminiscent of fantasy images of mythical heroes.

Grottoes often served many people as a shelter over their heads, a reliable shelter from bad weather, a place of fertile hermitage. And now that many of them have become available for visiting, anyone can get a little closer to their own history, which is so fascinating and alluring.

Kungur cave

She is considered the most beautiful in Russia. And this is not surprising, because, once inside, each person experiences a strong feeling that he has fallen into the very realm of the Snow Queen. All this is because the entire cave surface is covered with eternal layers of ice, as well as hoarfrost. According to scientists, the age of the ice layers reaches about 10 thousand years.

The views that tourists have the opportunity to admire are truly impressive. Ice droplets here gather into magnificent crystals, iridescent with many color shades. This is achieved thanks to the lighting system, which is based on laser illumination. There are also man-made ice sculptures.

Surprisingly, despite the eternally reigning cold, a man once lived in the cave. This is evidenced by a hermit's hut discovered here, a dug well, as well as a lost bast shoe.

Where is it located and how to get there? The cave is located near the city of Kungur (Perm region). You can get here by bus from Yekaterinburg.

Batovskaya cave

It is considered the longest cave in all of Russia, because its length reaches about 62,103 meters.

The cave was discovered quite by accident: a local hunter, following the trail of a bear, suddenly stumbled upon the entrance to it.

Inside the grotto there are permanent lakes one and a half meters deep and ten meters long. The uniqueness of the attraction lies in the fact that it is based on both limestone and sandstone. This is rare, since most karst caves composed entirely of limestone. The Botovskaya cave is considered to be a horizontal type cave, representing a labyrinth of intricate passages.

Where is it located and how to get there? The object is in Irkutsk region, near the village of Konoshalovo. Guides are advised to get to the cave. By car, it is impossible to drive close to the entrance.

Barlog's throat

It is considered the deepest cave in Russia. So, its depth is about 900 meters, and the length reaches 3000 meters. It got its name in honor of the character of the same name from The Lord of the Rings. After all, when the researchers had to go down deep, overcoming the path along a narrow well, it seemed that they had made their way through the throat of a fantastic monster.

The cave is relatively young, since it was discovered only in 1994. The entrance to the grotto is located at the top of the Atsgara River, its peak reaches a height of 2825 meters above sea level.

Where is it located and how to get there? The throat of Barloga is located in the Urupsky district of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. Take a bus to Kurdzhinovo, then hire a car. If the road is not washed out, then you can get to the Mostovska glade on the Zagedanka River.

Kapova cave (Shulgan-tash cave)

Gained worldwide fame thanks to the Paleolithic drawings. The age of the rock carvings is impressive: about 14–14.5 thousand years. The size of the drawings is also considered rare (within 44–112 centimeters). Some of them are made with red ocher, and the rest - with charcoal. Quite curious is the fact that no traces of soot were found on the ceiling of the object (after all, light was required to complete the drawings). But, as it turned out later, ancient people had a kind of analogue of a kerosene lamp, in which fat acted as an alternative to kerosene.

According to the results of archaeological excavations, it was possible to find human skulls without skeletons. It is assumed that a separate burial of the head indicated the importance of the departed person. It is possible that the heads belonged to the shaman and the leaders, since earlier the cave was an analogue of the sanctuary, where certain rituals took place.

Where is it located and how to get there? Located in the Burzyansky district of Bashkiria on Southern Urals, in the reserve Shulgan-Tash. You need to go from Ufa to Sterlitamak, turn to Beloretsk. Before reaching it 50 km, turn to Starosubkhangulovo. Go to Mindigulovo, then follow the sign "Shulgan-Tash".

Vorontsovskaya cave

It ranks sixth among the longest caves in Russia (length is 11,720 meters). Represents largest system caves in the Caucasus.

During the archaeological excavations in the cave it was possible to find traces ancient man(from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages). And during the Civil War, the grotto served as a reliable shelter for the red partisans.

Also Vorontsov cave also called excellent geological monument. For example, the length of stalactites is impressive. In the same Labyrinth cave (which is a continuation of Vorontsovskaya) a stalactite called Rocket rises more than 6 meters high.

Where is it located and how to get there? Located near the city of Sochi. You can get from the village of Khosta by car. But it should be taken into account that Shuttle Buses they will take you only to Kalinovoye Lake, from where you will have to walk 5-7 kilometers.

Akhshtyrskaya cave

The uniqueness of this attraction is that it was once inhabited by primitive people, as evidenced by the discovered objects, traces and rock tempera.

The first settlement arose in a cave 70 thousand years ago. Its main representatives were the Neanderthals. Further 20 thousand years the grotto was empty. And about 30-35 thousand years ago it was inhabited by the Cro-Magnons. In later times, people also lived in the cave. Similar intervals between settlement occurred at a time when the cave (according to the same indicators of dampness) was not suitable for living. But if people did not live in it, then it was still not empty, becoming a refuge for bears.

In relation to the Akhshtyrskaya cave, a rather curious assumption was made by mythologists who claim that Odysseus once met a cyclops here.

Where is it located and how to get there? The cave is 15 kilometers away from Adler. You can get there along the way from the trout factory or by bus from Adler.

Where is it located and how to get there? Located in Khakassia, 9 kilometers away southbound from the village of Topanova. You can get there along the Shira-Kommunar highway.

A cave is a naturally formed natural cavity in a mountain, large enough for a person to enter. They are studied by such a science as speleology. Thanks to speleologists, we know a lot about caves, because they are very different: deep, beautiful, bizarre or just huge. What is the deepest cave in the world and what other outstanding caves exist on Earth?

This Vietnamese cave was discovered relatively recently - in 1991 - by a local resident who was afraid to enter it because of the terrible rumble of water inside and called his friends for help. Eighteen years later, speleologists from Britain came to grips with the study. After covering a distance of four kilometers, they stumbled upon an obstacle in the form of an impressive wall, entirely formed from solid calcite (rock-forming material). In 2010, the study resumed again, the expedition stayed in the depths of the cave for two weeks.

Unusual columns made of stone and deep gorges. The wonders of Shondong amazed the entire speleological world. The dimensions of the cave are truly gigantic, in some places a skyscraper could fit there. It reminds lost city underground. It is even surprising that for so many years no one suspected its existence.

When floods occur, it is not possible to enter the cave

The cavity is 150 m high and about 9 km long. After the discovery of the cave, extreme sports enthusiasts rushed there. To get underground, you need a rope and stuff climbing equipment. On the way, you will have a chance to see the dark labyrinths, decorated with real rock patterns created by water flows. Indeed, inside this outlandish cave, a stormy underground river roars, creating a variety of tunnels. In some places, she managed to break through to the surface.

Son Doong is a very unusual place. 70-meter stalagmites grow here, attracting the attention of tourists, and real clouds form due to the mixing of warm and cold air. No matter how difficult and tiring the path to the cave was, all those who have been there unanimously assure that it is worth it.

Lubang Nasib Bagus

This largest cave in the world is located in Malaysia. It has a famous grotto called Sarawak. This grotto has very impressive dimensions - 600 by 415 m, and a height of about a hundred meters. The total volume of the grotto reaches a fantastic figure of 25 million cubic meters. It was discovered by three cavers from England in 1981.

At that time, they examined the karst massif, which is located in the Gunung Mulu reserve. Scientists climbed up the river and found themselves in a cave from which it flows. The speleologists did not even have enough lanterns to fully illuminate it.

On the area occupied by the grotto of Sarawak, several dozen aircraft can easily fit

Miao (Miao)

China also has one of the largest caves on the planet. It is hidden under the hills, and you can get there only by moving along the underground river. The cavity is a huge cave chamber. A few years ago, an expedition took place that studied this chamber in detail using a laser method.

This expedition was organized by the British, including specialists from the Chinese Institute of Karst Geology. Funding generated by the US National geographical society. Later, all the information was announced at a conference on the issue of caves, held in England. After extensive laser scans were carried out in 2013, the cave was officially mapped.

Miao's volume is approximately 11 million cubic meters

Eisreisenwelt

There is an amazing place on the planet, surrounded on all sides by ice. It is located in Austria near the city of Salzburg. It is the longest cave in the world that is partly made of ice.

The cave goes deep Alpine mountains for as much as 40 kilometers, but ice occupies only a small part of it, followed by limestone. The cave was formed by the efforts of the Salzak River, which made a hole in the mountain, and the ice appeared due to the snows that fell into the cave and into winter period were freezing.

The entrance to the ice part of the cave is always open for tourists, and cold winds constantly walk through the tunnels, which does not allow snow and ice to melt, and in the warm season, cold air rushes out, forming a kind of air lock.

According to official data, A. Posselt was the discoverer of the cave in 1879. This naturalist, however, managed to explore only the initial 200 m. Before the discovery, only the locals knew the cave. They were afraid of her, calling the devil's abode. In the middle of the 20th century, it was decided to build a special cable car, which reduced the travel time from 1.5 hours to just 3 minutes. The open season runs from the beginning of May to the end of October. Full tour of this impressive place will take approximately 1.5 hours.

It is difficult to find a photo of the interior of the cave, because it is forbidden to take pictures there

red cave

On the Crimean Peninsula, which is part of Russia, there is also an outstanding cave, or rather, a cave system that stretches for more than 25 kilometers. Underground there are many halls of different sizes and appearance, between them, an impenetrable labyrinth wanders. True, only 500 m are available for tourists, and then under the control of an experienced guide.

The interior view of the cavity is striking in the first place due to the lighting skillfully distributed along the entire route. Its intensity is adjusted in such a way that it favorably emphasizes the relief and creates beautiful shadows. Walking through the cave is convenient and safe: it is equipped with special paths with railings. The place is very interesting from the point of view of speleology, especially with its large stalagmites and bizarre streaks on the walls. Also, an amazingly clean river flows inside. It is so transparent that sometimes it can be seen only by reflections of light.

Hearing this name, anyone will imagine the remains of the greatest prehistoric giants discovered by scientists underground. But this is just a play on words, in the English dialect "mammoth" is huge. However, despite the fact that it has nothing to do with mammoths, traveling in it is extremely exciting. This is a whole underground kingdom, full of halls, galleries and passages. The cave seems to live its own, independent life: rivers roar here and waterfalls seethe. The reservoirs even have their own unique fauna: blind fish, shrimp without eyes...

The main entrance is located in the US, Kentucky. Nearby, in the western part of the Appalachians, there are several more smaller underground systems that were previously considered independent, but now it turned out that they are all connected in one way or another with Mamontova. An important national park, where a colony of rare bats lives and you can enjoy untouched nature. In the Mammoth Cave, scientists have come across unusual finds more than once, for example, the mummified corpse of an Indian, perfectly preserved along with clothes thanks to special climatic conditions.

The cave has not yet been fully explored, the estimated length is 587 km.

Sak-Aktun

This unique cave is one of the main attractions not only in Mexico, but also in the world. flowing in it major river bears the same name, which means "white cave" in translation. The cave system has a length of more than 300 km and is a suite, interconnected by passages of "rooms". The study of Sak-Aktun, located on the Yucatan Peninsula, began only in 1987, but over the years that have passed since that time, only one percent of the territory has been explored. It is hard to imagine how many more amazing things are hidden in it, because the cavity was formed 65 million years ago.

According to one version, its occurrence is the result of a collision of the Earth with a huge meteor. At the place where he fell, a crater turned out, from which, in turn, many cracks spread underground. Time passed, and the crater, along with the cracks, filled with rainwater. And so it turned out a long full-flowing underground channel. This river has always been treated with respect by local tribes, for example, the Maya.

The river occupies almost the entire cave, and the spectacle is unusually beautiful.

Krubera-Crow

This cave is located in Abkhazia. Its length is just over two kilometers, and Georgian scientists began to study it since 1960. Krubera-Voronya is of interest not only for speleologists, but also for biologists. Here they discovered a previously unknown species of beetles, which were recognized as champions among insects in terms of the depth of their habitat. Biologists also claim that many other new species can be found in this place.

The well-known speleological group Cavex is mainly engaged in the study of the cave. This team was the first to achieve maximum depth– 1.7 km. Research can not be called easy: the expedition now and then ran into dead ends, had to go back. It also happened vice versa, windows leading to the discovery of new paths were found in the cave wall.

From Kruber-Voronya flows the most short river on the planet - Reprua, which is only 18 meters long

Sarma

Sarma is located in Arabica mountain in Georgia. It is a series of wells and halls, between which many tunnels and small climbs meander. Sarma is unanimously recognized by scientists as one of the most beautiful and scientifically interesting caves, extremely valuable for the world speleological community.

Sarma is conditionally divided into three levels - the first goes to a depth of 420 m, the second - to 900 m, the third - to 1830 m, then the territory has not yet been explored. Sarma got its name in accordance with the name of the wind: due to the peculiarities of aerodynamics, strong winds always blow here. hurricane wind, reaching a speed of 50 km / h, which the locals are afraid of.

The cave is closed to tourists, so you can get into it only as part of an expedition, having the appropriate skills and equipment.

Our Earth is a place filled with amazing wonders and mysteries of nature, only a small part of which has been explored by mankind. Huge and majestic caves invariably delight travelers.

Our planet is a place of amazing wonders and unusual mysteries. 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 located, when it was discovered and what distinguishing features it has.

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 that date no information was provided. At the same time, one should not forget that the underground grotto of colossal dimensions was formed by the water element for at least two million years in a row. 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 natural park called Phong Nha - Kebang, and 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 are amazing 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. Unique feature The local ecosystem is considered to have a 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, 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 largest cave in the world 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.

These unique caves are not movie sets or photoshop. They really exist and are in Asia, North America and Europe. Some caves are formed due to the fact that water seeps through cracks in limestone rock and - not in a year, and not in two - in millions of years, drops of water blur their “path”, at the same time forming these majestic caves. Other caves are formed due to the inexorable influence of the lake or sea ​​water. Some grottoes can be freely visited by any tourist, however, most of them are still available only for extreme adventurers who are not too lazy to get a pass to visit a wonderful natural formation in advance. So, here are the 13 most beautiful caves in the world.

Son Doong Cave, Vietnam

Son Doong is the largest known cave in the world today. It is filled with countless wonders, isolated ecosystems and amazing geological formations. locals Quang Binh Province discovered this cave in the early 90s of the last century, and only 20 years later a group of British speleologists went there, who told the whole world about the extraordinary grotto.

Ice cave Mutnovskaya Sopka, Russia

The active volcano Mutnovsky in Kamchatka is one of the largest geothermal deposits in the world. Sopka hugging ice caves, which were formed by the release of warm volcanic gases called fumaroles.

Naica Mine, Mexico

This cave contains some of the largest crystalline formations in the world - up to 15 meters long and up to 1.2 meters wide. The cave of crystals is not accessible for visiting due to its deep location and other factors that complicate the descent. However, there are many photographs that prove the incredible gifts of nature.

Ice cave Vatnajokull, Iceland

This natural wonder is located in the Vatnajokull glacier, the largest in all of Europe. The caves were formed due to the melting of glaciers, and, by the way, visiting the grotto is not safe, as the glaciers are constantly collapsing and changing their shape.

Batu Caves, Malaysia

These caves were once inhabited by English and Chinese settlers, as well as the indigenous inhabitants of this region of Malaysia, the Temuans. In the caves, the inhabitants mined guano, i.e. humus with particles of bird and bat droppings, which was actively used for agricultural purposes. And today the cave impresses with its temple complex and, of course, with unique gloomy landscapes.

Mendenhall Cave, USA

This ice cave is part of the Mendenhall Glacier, which is located near the town of Juneau in Alaska. beautiful cave was formed by the melting of a glacier, and it is not entirely clear how long this cave will last on the face of the earth in view of the fact that the ice masses continue to gradually melt.

Algarve cave, Portugal

Algarve - the most southern province Portugal, and also the location of the most diverse and amazing coastal formations, including this cave. An amazing grotto near Lagos can only be reached by water.

Waitomo Cave, New Zealand

One of the main attractions of the country is located 12 km northwest of the tiny town of Te Kiti. The name Waitomo in Maori means "wai" - water and "tomo" - funnel, failure. That is, "water passing through a funnel." But these caves are much more popular with their small inhabitants - fireflies, which is why the cave is sometimes called "Glowworms Cave" ("Glowworms Cave"). Shiny silk threads of these insects hang from the ceiling of the grotto and glow, attracting the attention of the victims of fireflies - other insects, but for everyone else - it's just a gorgeous "light show".

Tam Lod Cave, Thailand

Flowing through the cave beautiful river Nam Lang, and hundreds of thousands of Pacific swifts build their nests in amazing stalactites and stalagmites. This grotto is located in the eponymous national park, located 77 kilometers from the city of Mae Hong Son.

Kyat Se Cave, Myanmar

Little is known about this cave in Myanmar, except that there is a beautiful cave inside. Buddhist temple. But the views are absolutely amazing!

Marble Caves, Patagonia

Caves in Patagonia South America, is a real natural kaleidoscope: amazing turquoise waters that cast mother-of-pearl reflections on the white marble ceiling of the cave, play of colors and smooth curves of shapes. This cave is so good that it is even called Marble Cathedral, that is, the Marble Cathedral.

Antelope Canyon, USA

The canyon in Arizona has been sculpted by stubborn winds and flash floods for thousands of years, and the result of Mother Nature's labors today is more than impressive: smooth walls, rich reddish colors that resemble the skin of an antelope, graceful lines. This canyon is not as widely known as the Grand Canyon or Bryce Canyon, however, it is certainly a unique sight.

Allison Cave, USA

The most interesting part of this mountain complex is fantasy mine, popular among speleologists, that is, geologists specializing in the study of caves. Its depth is 178 meters, and you can go down the rope.