The longest cave in the world. Its length is 686 kilometers — more than the latitudinal width of Germany
A system of underground passages, rivers and waterfalls, unique stalactites and animals. This is what Mammoth Cave looks like. Where is this longest cave in the world located?
The longest cave in the world is located in the USA. More precisely — in the central part of the state of Kentucky, about 160 km south of Louisville. This is Mammoth Cave, located within the national park of the same name.
The cave is a UNESCO world heritage site. It is also one of the dark sky parks. That is, a place that allows astronomical observations undisturbed by artificial light.
The longest cave in the world measures 686 km.
Some time ago, news circulated the world that the world’s longest Mammoth Cave is even longer. After marking out an additional 13 km, the record-breaking system of underground passages now measures 686 km. That’s more than what the whole of Germany measured east-west across. The second on the list of the world’s longest caves, Mexico’s Sac Actun, is “only” 376 km long.
Volunteers from the Cave Research Foundation (CRF) and the Central Kentucky Krast Coalition were involved in mapping the cave.
“Such underground expeditions are long and arduous. Researchers must climb, including vertical walls, and squeeze through narrow crevices. Water and mud pose additional difficulties,” explained Karen Willmes, project manager, in an official statement.
How Mammoth Cave was discovered
This is not the first time Mammoth Cave has “expanded.” European settlers discovered it in the late 18th century. The first record mentioning a large cave at the site dates back to 1798. However, it is known that Native Americans discovered Mammoth Cave much earlier.
In 1969, the cave was listed in the Guinness Book of Records. At that time it measured “only” 105 km. Just three years later, cave explorers discovered more passages and connections to the Flint Ridge cave system. In total, Mammoth Cave gained another 127 km. Since then, the official name of the system has been Mammoth-Flint Ridge Cave System.
From time to time, cave explorers report more underground discoveries in Mammoth Cave National Park. The site’s authorities predict that the current length of the passageways is not definitive. As they wrote on social media: “the end is not in sight.”
Mammoth Cave — nature and sightseeing
Mammoth Cave’s underground system of passageways was formed as a result of limestone erosion. This phenomenon occurs when water enters underground through holes and cracks, and then moves deeper and deeper, slowly dissolving the soft rocks. This is one of the karst phenomena.
Mammoth Cave is not only the longest, but also one of the most beautiful caves in the world. The walls and flowstone of Mammoth Cave are fabulously colorful and take on fantastic shapes. It contains several lakes, rivers and waterfalls. The longest cave in the world is home to several hundred species of wildlife. Among others, bats and blindworms live there.
About 2 million tourists visit the underground complex every year. They have several routes to choose from. In total, there are 19 km of corridors located on five levels. The lowest is 110 meters below the surface of the ground. Tourists used to be able to take boats across the underground Echo River. Currently, only walking routes are available, with tour lengths ranging from one to six hours.
At the beginning of the 19th century, Mammoth Cave was a saltpeter mine, necessary for the production of gunpowder. Then mining ceased, and from 1816 the cave became a popular place to visit.
The second longest cave in the world
In a sense, a sister system to Mammoth Cave is located on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, northeast of the city of Tulum. In 2018, scientists confirmed that the two previously known underwater caves had merged to form the Sac Actun (White Cave), which measures 347 km in length. Currently, its length is 376 km.
It is the longest underwater cave in the world and the most important underwater archaeological site in the world.
Source: Mammoth Cave National Park
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