List of longest caves

Mammoth Cave, the world's longest known cave system

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)

[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

 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

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Bob Gulden (November 28, 2016). "Worlds longest caves". Geo2 Committee on Long and Deep Caves. National Speleological Society (NSS). Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  2. 1 2 "List of Long Underwater Caves in Quintana Roo Mexico". Quintana Roo Speleological Survey. NSS. May 1, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "List of Long Underwater Caves in Quintana Roo Mexico". Quintana Roo Speleological Survey. NSS. January 1, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Guizhou's Shuanghe Cave named longest cave in Asia".
  5. ↑ "Asia's longest cave has many wonders".
  6. ↑ "Shuanghe Cave in SW China's Guizhou named longest cave in Asia".
  7. ↑ "Guizhou's Shuanghe Cave named longest cave in Asia".
  8. ↑ "贵州绥阳双河洞探测长度超238公里 成亚洲第一长洞".
  9. ↑ "贵州双河溶洞长度已达238公里".
  10. ↑ Eavis, Rob (April–May 2016). "What a Rollercoaster". Descent (249): 24–29.
  11. ↑ Arbeitsgemeinschaft Höllochforschung AGH. "Offizielle Vermessungs-Werte AGH" (in German). Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  12. ↑ "Arbeitsgemeinschaft Hoellochforschung AGH" (in German). Retrieved 2017-05-17.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.