List of longest caves
Mammoth Cave, the world's longest known cave system
The following is a list of the world's 10 longest caves per length of documented passageways. Many passageways are still being discovered; this list is based on the latest verifiable data.[1][2]
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 | 335.0 km (208.2 mi)[1][2] | near Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico | 1987 | none |
| Jewel Cave | 289.8 km (180.1 mi)[1] | near Custer, South Dakota, United States | 1900 | Jewel Cave National Monument |
| Sistema Ox Bel Ha | 257.1 km (159.8 mi)[1][2] | near Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico | 1996 | southern parts in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve |
| Optymistychna Cave | 236.0 km (146.6 mi)[1] | near Korolivka, Ukraine | 1966 | none |
| 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)[3] | Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia | 1978 | Gunung Mulu National Park, also a World Heritage Site |
| Fisher Ridge Cave System | 200.5 km (124.6 mi)[1] | near Brownsville, Kentucky, United States | 1981 | none |
| Hölloch | 200.4 km (124.5 mi)[1] | Muotathal, Switzerland | 1875 | none |
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Bob Gulden (January 10, 2016). "Worlds longest caves". Geo2 Committee on Long and Deep Caves. National Speleological Society (NSS). Retrieved January 10, 2016.
- 1 2 3 "List of Long Underwater Caves in Quintana Roo Mexico". Quintana Roo Speleological Survey. NSS. January 1, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ↑ Eavis, Rob (April–May 2016). "What a Rollercoaster". Descent (249): 24–29.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 8/25/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.