List of longest caves
Appearance
The following is a list of the world's 11 longest caves per length of documented passageways. Many passageways are still being discovered; this list is based on the latest verifiable data.[1][2][3]
Geographical distribution
Caves are found around the world. The largest form in areas of karst landforms whose rocks erode easily and create caves. Preferable conditions for cave formation are adequate precipitation, enough plants and animals to produce ample carbon dioxide, and a landscape of gentle hills which drains slowly. The highest concentrations of long caves in the world are found in the Pennyrile of southern Kentucky, United States, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, United States, and in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico.
System | Length | Location | Discovery | Associated parks, protected areas |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mammoth Cave | 651.8 km (405.0 mi)[1] | near Brownsville, Kentucky, United States | 1791 | Mammoth Cave National Park, also a World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve |
Sistema Sac Actun / Sistema Dos Ojos | 346.7 km (215.4 mi)[1][3] | near Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico | 1987 | none |
Jewel Cave | 310.65 km (193.0 mi)[1] | near Custer, South Dakota, United States | 1900 | Jewel Cave National Monument |
Sistema Ox Bel Ha | 270.2 km (167.9 mi)[1][2] | near Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico | 1996 | southern parts in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve |
Optymistychna Cave | 260.0 km (161.6 mi)[1] | near Korolivka, Ukraine | 1966 | Dnistrovskyy Canion |
Shuanghedong Cave Network | 238.479 km (148.2 mi) | Guizhou, China | 1988 | Suiyang Shuanghedong National Geopark |
Wind Cave | 229.7 km (142.7 mi)[1] | near Hot Springs, South Dakota, United States | 1881 | Wind Cave National Park |
Lechuguilla Cave | 222.6 km (138.3 mi)[1] | near Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States | 1900 | Carlsbad Caverns National Park |
Clearwater Cave/Gua Air Jernih | 215.3 km (133.8 mi)[10] | Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia | 1978 | Gunung Mulu National Park, also a World Heritage Site |
Hölloch | 203.094 km (126.2 mi)[1][11][12] | Muotathal, Switzerland | 1875 | none |
Fisher Ridge Cave System | 201.6 km (125.3 mi)[1] | near Brownsville, Kentucky, United States | 1981 | none |
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Bob Gulden (November 28, 2016). "Worlds longest caves". Geo2 Committee on Long and Deep Caves. National Speleological Society (NSS). Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ a b "List of Long Underwater Caves in Quintana Roo Mexico". Quintana Roo Speleological Survey. NSS. May 1, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ a b "List of Long Underwater Caves in Quintana Roo Mexico". Quintana Roo Speleological Survey. NSS. January 1, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ "Guizhou's Shuanghe Cave named longest cave in Asia".
- ^ "Asia's longest cave has many wonders".
- ^ "Shuanghe Cave in SW China's Guizhou named longest cave in Asia".
- ^ "Guizhou's Shuanghe Cave named longest cave in Asia".
- ^ "贵州绥阳双河洞探测长度超238公里 成亚洲第一长洞".
- ^ "贵州双河溶洞长度已达238公里".
- ^ Eavis, Rob (April–May 2016). "What a Rollercoaster". Descent (249): 24–29.
- ^ Arbeitsgemeinschaft Höllochforschung AGH. "Offizielle Vermessungs-Werte AGH" (in German). Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ "Arbeitsgemeinschaft Hoellochforschung AGH" (in German). Retrieved 2017-05-17.