World's Largest Cave Found In Vietnam

In the dense jungles of Vietnam, in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a local farmer came across what is now known as the world's largest cave. The cave has been named the Son Doong Cave. It measures at 80 x 80 meters, or 262 x 262 feet, and at least 2.8 miles long.

The cave was first explored by a British-Vietnamese research team earlier this year. They were able to bring in some very high-tech laser measuring devices so that the measurements could be very precise, even to the millimeter. This cave also has an underground river flowing through it that is over 1 1/2 miles long. It also has giant stalagmites that measure more than 230 feet high. One member of the research team was able to confirm that in one area of the cave, it measured 460 feet high.

Apparently, until now, the world record holder for the largest cave, went to Deer Cave, which is located in the Malaysian area of the island of Borneo. There was nothing stated as to whether the size of that cave was even comparable to this newly found cave.

The expedition team that was brought in to explore the cave were told by some locals that they had known about the cave for quite some time, there was just no one brave enough to check it out. Adam Spillane, one member of the British Cave Research Association Expedition stated, "It has a very loud draft, and you can hear the river from the cave entrance, so it is very noisy and intimidating." According to the enormous size of the cave, and the fact that it has a river running through it, it was probably very smart of the local people to bring in professional researchers to explore the cave for the first time.

The pictures from this article are amazing. I don' t think we realize how small we really are until we come up against something as enormous as this. I remember going in to the first cave I had ever been in, probably like most of us living in southwest Missouri, the famous Silver Dollar City cave. I was completely mesmerized by it all. Since then, I've been in several tourist-type caves, but I am blown away every time.

My Dad grew up close to Tiff City, Mo., and he used to tell me stories about finding small caves around Buffalo Creek, where he played around as a child. I was always fascinated to hear him talk about finding indian arrowheads in the caves. Then I grew up and married a man who is fascinated with caves the way I am. He has explored several caves in southwest Missouri over the years also. However, I have to say, I just stick to the caves that are open to the public. The ones that actually have ramps to walk down, equipped with handrails and all. Not to mention, lighting throughout the cave, so you don't have to wear all that headgear.

Maybe the Son Doong Cave will be open to the public in the near future, so people can see this nautural creation in person. I'm sure as beautiful as the pictures are, they don't really do it justice.