Sarawak Chamber: Difference between revisions
m by mistake the area referred to Salle de Miaos, in China, instead to Sarawak Chamber, from the same ref. |
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The chamber was discovered by three British cavers, Andy Eavis, Dave Checkley and Tony White, in January 1981 during the [http://www.mulucaves.org/wordpress/expeditions/mulu-1980 Mulu'80 Expedition]. The story of how it was discovered is told in the books ''Underground Worlds'' and ''Giant Caves of Borneo''. |
The chamber was discovered by three British cavers, Andy Eavis, Dave Checkley and Tony White, in January 1981 during the [http://www.mulucaves.org/wordpress/expeditions/mulu-1980 Mulu'80 Expedition]. The story of how it was discovered is told in the books ''Underground Worlds'' and ''Giant Caves of Borneo''. |
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Later named Sarawak Chamber, it measures 600 |
Later named Sarawak Chamber, it measures {{convert|600|m|ft}} long, {{convert|435|m|ft}} wide and a maximum of {{convert|115|m|ft}}) high, and was estimated as three times the size of the Big Room in [[Carlsbad Caverns National Park]], [[New Mexico]], then thought to be the largest underground chamber. Its volume and area were checked by laser scanning in 2011 and were found to be {{convert|9,579,205|m3|cuft}} and {{convert|164,459|m2|sqft}} respectively. <ref name=Kirby2011p23>Kirby (2011:23)</ref> |
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To reach Sarawak Chamber, one must follow a river upstream from the cave entrance. This long passage has a roof up to 60 metres high, and may require some swimming and a traverse along a ledge. Accompanied visits can be arranged by the national Park.<ref>[http://www.mulupark.com/htm/cave_activities/index.htm Gunung Mulu World Heritage Area, Cave activities]</ref> |
To reach Sarawak Chamber, one must follow a river upstream from the cave entrance. This long passage has a roof up to 60 metres high, and may require some swimming and a traverse along a ledge. Accompanied visits can be arranged by the national Park.<ref>[http://www.mulupark.com/htm/cave_activities/index.htm Gunung Mulu World Heritage Area, Cave activities]</ref> |
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== Geology and formation == |
== Geology and formation == |
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The chamber is due to two main factors. The first of which is [[Tectonic uplift|uplift]] in the soil, occurring between 2 and 5 million years ago. The second is the erosion of the soft limestone and other rocks, and coupled with high rainfall of the surrounding [[rainforest]], these processes made the chamber we see today.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} |
Sarawak Chamber is formed in Melinau [[Limestone]], a reef complex of [[Upper Eocene]] to [[Lower Miocene]] age.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Webb|first1=Barry|title=The Geology of Mulu|url=http://www.mulucaves.org/wordpress/science/the-geology-of-mulu|website=The Mulu Caves Project|publisher=Mulu Caves Project 2009|accessdate=28 September 2014}}</ref> The chamber is due to two main factors. The first of which is [[Tectonic uplift|uplift]] in the soil, occurring between 2 and 5 million years ago. The second is the erosion of the soft limestone and other rocks, and coupled with high rainfall of the surrounding [[rainforest]], these processes made the chamber we see today.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} |
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== Fiction == |
== Fiction == |
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Revision as of 19:24, 28 September 2014
Sarawak Chamber is the largest known cave chamber in the world. It is in Gua Nasib Bagus (Good Luck Cave), which is located in Gunung Mulu National Park, in the Malaysian state of Sarawak on the island of Borneo.
Discovery
The chamber was discovered by three British cavers, Andy Eavis, Dave Checkley and Tony White, in January 1981 during the Mulu'80 Expedition. The story of how it was discovered is told in the books Underground Worlds and Giant Caves of Borneo.
Later named Sarawak Chamber, it measures 600 metres (2,000 ft) long, 435 metres (1,427 ft) wide and a maximum of 115 metres (377 ft)) high, and was estimated as three times the size of the Big Room in Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, then thought to be the largest underground chamber. Its volume and area were checked by laser scanning in 2011 and were found to be 9,579,205 cubic metres (338,286,400 cu ft) and 164,459 square metres (1,770,220 sq ft) respectively. [1]
To reach Sarawak Chamber, one must follow a river upstream from the cave entrance. This long passage has a roof up to 60 metres high, and may require some swimming and a traverse along a ledge. Accompanied visits can be arranged by the national Park.[2]
Geology and formation
Sarawak Chamber is formed in Melinau Limestone, a reef complex of Upper Eocene to Lower Miocene age.[3] The chamber is due to two main factors. The first of which is uplift in the soil, occurring between 2 and 5 million years ago. The second is the erosion of the soft limestone and other rocks, and coupled with high rainfall of the surrounding rainforest, these processes made the chamber we see today.[citation needed]
Fiction
The feeling of agoraphobia experienced by one of the discoverers is referenced in the novel House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski.
References
- ^ Kirby (2011:23)
- ^ Gunung Mulu World Heritage Area, Cave activities
- ^ Webb, Barry. "The Geology of Mulu". The Mulu Caves Project. Mulu Caves Project 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2014.
- Kirby, Matt (2011), Mulu Caves 2011, Mulu Caves Project.
- Jackson [ed], Underground Worlds (1985) Time Life Books. Earth Series.
- Meredith, Wooldridge and Lyon, Giant Caves of Borneo (1992) Tropical Press.
- Facts and Fallacies - Stories of the Strange and Unusual (1989). Reader's Digest Ltd. pp. 14–15. ISBN 0-86438-087-9.
- Extreme Earth Collins (2003) Pp. 78–79. ISBN 0-00-716392-4
- House of Leaves (2000) p. 125.
External links
- Description of the Sarawak Chamber at the Mulu Caves project.
- Surveying Sarawak Chamber at Sarawak Caves
- Short description at www.showcaves.com.
- World's Largest Cave - Sarawak Chamber