The
American Business Insider Magazine has recognised Vietnam’s Son Doong cave
system as one of the world’s 12 most impressive.
Sơn Đoòng cave (hang Sơn Đoòng, "Mountain River cave" in
Vietnamese) is a cave in Phong Nha – Kẻ Bàng National Park, Bố Trạch
District, Quảng Bình Province, Vietnam. As of 2009 it is the biggest known cave in the
world, and is located near the
Laos - Vietnam border
(17°27'25.88"N 106°17'15.36"E). Inside is a large, fast-flowing
underground river.
Sơn
Đoòng Cave was found by a local man named Hồ-Khanh in 1991. The local men were
afraid of the cave for the whistling sound caused by an underground river. It
was not until 2009 that it became public knowledge, after a group of scientists
from the British Cave Research Associationg led by Howard and Deb Limbert,
conducted a survey in Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng from 10 to 14 April, 2009. Their progress was stopped by a large
calcite wall.
According to the
magazine, Son Doong cave is actually the longest natural cave system thus
far known. Underground rivers eroding limestone deposits formed the cave
approximately 2 to 5 million years ago.
It stretches about five kilometers in length, and opens out as
high as 200 metres and as wide as 150 meters.The cave starts to welcome
international visitors in 2014.
The magazine also honoured Thailand’s Phraya Nakon and Morakot
caves, New Zealand’s Waitomo Glowworm cave, Mexico’s Crystal Caves, Italy’s
Blue Grotto, Scotland’s Fingal cave, France’s Lascaux, Russia’s Orda cave,
Austria’s Eisriesenwelt, and China’s Reed Flute.
And Son Doong Caves Travel Video
