Shondong is the largest cave in the world (25 photos).

Caves are natural voids under the surface of the earth or in the depths of mountains, the study of which is the science of speleology. Many caves look incredibly beautiful, others attract with their bizarre formations, and others with their colossal sizes.

1. Son Doong (Vietnam)

The most big cave in the world is located in the Vietnamese province of Quang Binh, within the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. In 1991, peasant Ho Han first found the entrance to a cave lost in the jungle, however, he was afraid to go down there because the descent was too steep and the roar of water coming from there. Only in 2009, British speleologists from G. Limbert’s group were able to go down into the cave and begin studying it. Later they announced the official discovery of the Son Doong cave, and also that it is the largest in the world in size.
The width of this cave turned out to be 150 meters, and the height was even greater - about 200 meters. A fast underground river flows through the cave, which completely floods some areas during the monsoon season. The cave has its own climate, low-growing jungle grows, and due to the temperature difference above, a kind of clouds are formed. Above the giant cavity in the ground, gaps have formed in two places through which sunlight can penetrate inside, which makes it possible for trees up to 3 meters high to grow here.
The fauna and flora of Shondong is an interesting subject for research by scientists. Many species of plants grow in the cave; species of animals that were unusual for such an unexpected place as the cave were spotted: monkeys, flying foxes, hornbills.

2. Lubang Nasib Bagus (Malaysia)

This cave contains the largest grotto on the planet, Sarawak, which is 600 m long, 100 m high, and 415 m wide. The volume of the entire Lubang Nasib Bagus cave system reaches 25 million cubic meters. The cave was discovered by a trio of British speleologists in 1981 while exploring a karst massif in Gunung Mulu National Park. The researchers entered the cave, moving up the river flowing from it. There they found themselves in a grotto, the arches of which could not be reached by the light of the powerful lanterns they had. It immediately became clear that the size of the cave was colossal. The cave could fit 50 large airliners.

3. Miao (China)

The next huge cave is located in China. Above it is a hilly area. You can also get to the Miao Cave by moving along the bed of an underground river. This cave was discovered in 1989 by a joint expedition in which the Chinese and Europeans participated. Miao belongs to a huge network of caves located in Ziyun Getu He Chuandong National Park. Laser scanning had to be used to determine the boundaries of the cave arches. Research has shown the volume of this cave to be 10.78 million cubic meters. m.

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4. Eisriesenwelt (Austria)

Eisriesenwelt is the world's largest ice cave and maintains sub-zero temperatures all year round. The cave stretches for 42 kilometers, descending to a depth of 407 meters. People have long suspected its existence, but it was discovered by naturalist Anton von Posselt-Kzorich in 1879. It was carefully examined by local speleologist Alexander von Merck, who died in the First World War. world war and buried in one of the niches of this cave. Nowadays, Eisriesenwelt Cave has become a prominent tourist attraction. The very first excursion here was held in 1920, and today it is visited by about 150,000 people from May to October, but in winter the entrance is closed due to the danger of avalanches.

5. Red Cave (Crimea)

About a third of the territory of Crimea is dotted with caves, so it is not surprising that there is also room for a huge cave system that stretches for 25 kilometers. On the Crimean Peninsula there is a chain of underground grottoes of different sizes and looking differently, and they are connected by a difficult and confusing labyrinth. The area of ​​the Red Cave is 52,000 square meters. m. True, tourists here are allowed no further than 500 m into the cave, and even then only in the presence of a guide.
This cave invariably attracts the attention of speleologists who examine the bizarre deposits on the cave walls and huge stalagmites. A river flows through the cave with very clean water- so transparent that its presence can sometimes be guessed only by the glare of light.

6. Mammoth Cave (USA)

This is the longest cave in the world, located in Kentucky, in the national park of the same name. Its total length is over 587 km. But the real length of the cave is even greater; this is only what scientists have been able to explore to date. So far, 20 huge halls and 225 underground passages have been discovered in the cave system. The name of the cave was given for its enormous size, and there is no connection with prehistoric extinct animals. Along one of the branches of the cave flows the large Echo River, which is 60 m wide and in some places up to 10 m deep.
Scientists have suggested that this cave appeared over 10 million years ago. The Indians knew about its existence, and proof of this was the discovery of Indian burials with mummies in the depths of the cave. Pale-faced Americans discovered a cave in late XVIII century.

7. Sac Actun (Mexico)

This grandiose cave, located on the Yucatan Peninsula, differs from others in that it is almost completely flooded. A large river of the same name flows through it. By the way, the name translates as “white cave”. The length of this cave system exceeds 317 km, of which only 5 km are not flooded. These are large caves, stretched out in a chain and connected by passages. Speleologists began studying it only in 1987, but since then they have succeeded in researching no more than one percent of its components. It is impossible to know how many secrets this cave, formed 65 million years ago and which saw dinosaurs, hides.

8. Krubera-Voronya (Abkhazia)

If this is not the largest cave in the world in terms of volume or length, it is certainly the deepest cave explored by speleologists. It is located on the territory of Abkhazia, in the Arabica mountain range. This cave was first discovered by an expedition of speleologists from the Institute of Geography named after. V. Bagrationi at the Academy of Sciences of the Georgian SSR in 1960. The entrance to the cave is located high in the mountains - at a level of 2250 meters. This is a so-called subvertical type cave, that is, it consists of a number of wells connected to each other by galleries and manholes. In 2014, another entrance to the Krubera-Voronya cave was discovered at approximately the same height (2253 meters). Having descended 200 meters below the entrance, the cave is divided into two main branches: the Main and Nekuibyshevskaya. Those even lower are divided into many smaller branches. Thanks to the higher second entrance, the world record for the depth of the cave system also rose slightly, reaching a value of 2199 meters.

9. Sarma (Abkhazia)

Another cave, also located in Abkhazia, and next to Krubera-Voronya - in the Arabica mountain range, is also one of the deepest in the world. It was discovered by Sergei Shipitsyn, and it was relatively recently - in 1990. The entrance to this cave is located a little lower - at an altitude of 2150 meters above sea level. On at the moment managed to establish its depth at 1830 meters. Both caves are formed by soft gypsum and limestone rocks. Many Russian speleologists studied this cave: Anatoly Bezverkhy, Rafail Safin, Alexander Verbitsky, Vasily Sukhachev, Artyom Kalachev, Alexander Osintsev, Andrey Zakrepa, Vladimir Plotnikov, Pavel Rudko, Evgeny Koreshnikov and many others.

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10. Optimistic Cave (Ukraine)

This huge cave received its optimistic name because other speleologists, who were skeptical about the possibility of studying it, began to call their Lvov colleagues who advocated it optimists. But the latter turned out to be right - since the discovery of the cave in 1966 by Lviv speleologists, over 200 expeditions have been sent to it. Initially, it was thought that it was just a crack no more than 3 meters long, but when they were able to penetrate deeper into it, it became clear that this was one of the largest caves in the world.
This cave is located on the territory of the Ternopil region. Optimistic Cave became the longest gypsum cave in the world. So far we have been able to explore 230 kilometers, but the actual length of the cave is much greater, and many more secrets hidden underground await researchers.

Caves are this mysterious and magical world of the dark kingdom, silence and silence. And the caves can rightly be called the cradle of humanity. Indeed, in prehistoric times, primitive people used caves as a refuge from the wind and cold. They were the "discoverers" of natural dungeons. The tools and wall paintings of Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons found in caves confirm this. In ancient times, some caves were considered the dwellings of the gods, others were used to shelter herds and, especially often, for burial. And in the recent past, there were cases when people who were at odds with society tried to hide in caves.

But even though the cave “cradle” was abandoned by man long ago, interest in the dungeons remained for many centuries. In the 18th century, the first expeditions began to study hard-to-reach caves.

Some historical facts:

In May 1748, the mathematician I. Nagel led an unprecedented descent into the Macocha chasm (Moravia) that was unprecedented at that time. He overcame the steep part of the entrance shaft (50 m) and reached a depth of 138 m. The theoretical ideas of this time are summarized in Citeaux de la Fond’s book “Wonders of Nature” (1788). He believed that underground voids arose “mostly through fire-breathing mountains,” and the deposits in caves represent “a kind of underground garden.” The views of Russian scientists were much closer to the truth, unfortunately they remained unknown in Western Europe. Back in 1720, V.N. Tatishchev visited the outskirts of the city of Kungur and pointed out that the caves were the result of “dilution” (dissolution) and collapse of rocks. In 1732 I. G. Gmelin visited Kungur cave and made her plan. He also made the first measurements of air temperature underground.

M.V. Lomonosov made a great contribution to the formation of knowledge about the underground world. He proved that caves have a physical and chemical nature, explained the formation of “scaling” on the walls of caves by the deposition of calcite from aqueous solution, proposed Russian equivalents of the Latin terms “stalactite” and “stalagmite” (“upper drip” and “lower drip”), substantiated the reasons for the movement of air underground and the formation of cave ice.

No cave in the world is like another. Huge halls with grottoes, wells, lakes, waterfalls and glaciers.

For thousands of years, water diligently eroded the stone and created underground labyrinths of a silent world of beauty and mysteries. Seeping into the cracks of limestone, rainwater destroys the stone from year to year, enlarging the cracks. For centuries, water saturated with minerals, dripping from the ceiling of caves, forms stalactites and stalagmites, sometimes of such bizarre shapes that they are given their own names.

Calcite in caves comes in the most unusual forms: in the form of flowers, pearls, twigs, sometimes so fragile and thin that they crumble when touched.

To this day, the deep labyrinths of caves attract people to plunge into their darkness and uncover underground secrets.

Let us, at least for a little while, also plunge into this mysterious world of the underground kingdom and get acquainted with its amazing beauties.

Han Son Doong Cave. Vietnam.

Hang Son Dung Cave (Mountain River Cave) is located in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and was discovered in April 2009 by British speleologists. The cave system turned out to be huge. British researchers suggest that this cave is the largest in volume in the world!

In the underground hall of the Hang Son Dung cave there is enough space even for a 40-story skyscraper. The largest hall of the cave has a total length of more than 5000 meters. The total length of the cave is 9000 meters. The width of the halls and corridors is 100 meters, and the height reaches 200 meters. At the same time, the Deer Cave, located in Malaysia and one of the largest caves in the world, has a height of halls not exceeding 100 meters and a width of 90.

Hang Son Dong Cave - a jungle cave! In the vaults of the cave there are gaps through which light penetrates, and as a result of this, plants grow in the cave - the limestone ledges are covered with a carpet of delicate greenery. Following the plants, not only insects and snakes, but even monkeys and birds descend into the cave. The Rao Tuong River has created tunnels in solid rock over many centuries. During the dry months the river becomes a small stream, but during the rainy season the underground river becomes full again, so that in some places it comes to the surface of the earth.

The largest cave in the world. National Geographic film.

Cave of Swallows (Sotano de las Golondrinas). Mexico.

Sotano de las Golondrinas or Cave of Swallows is located in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi. The entrance to the cave is a huge hole in the mountain with a diameter of 55 meters. When descending into the neck of the cave, after a few meters there is an expansion to 160 meters, which creates difficulties during the descent and ascent. This is what attracts fans of extreme sports here. The cave is one of the deepest caves in Mexico, its depth reaches 376 meters, which is comparable to the height of a 120-story building. The floor in the Swallow Cave is inclined and has many narrow tunnels and passages that lead to deeper levels. To date, they have not been particularly well studied.

The cave got its name due to the huge colony of swallows that live here. And so as not to violate quiet life birds, descents into the cave are permitted only in certain time: from 12 to 16 o'clock, when the birds leave it. In addition, this saves not only the lives of swallows, but also those who enjoy extreme skydiving. After all, a collision with a flock of birds during a free flight is very dangerous.

Recently, the Swallow Cave has become a real Mecca for speleologists and base jumpers.

Cave of Giant Crystals (Cueva de los Cristales). Mexico.

The Cave of Crystals (Cueva de los Cristales) is located in the Naica mine complex, in the Mexican desert of the state of Chihuahua at a depth of 300 meters. The cave is unique in that it contains giant crystals of selenite (a mineral, a type of gypsum). These are the largest natural crystals ever found on the planet - the transparent gypsum rays reach sizes of 11 meters in length and weigh about 55 tons.

The cave was discovered in 2000 while digging a tunnel in the mine complex. The climate in the cave is unusual - it is very hot in the cave! Temperatures reach 50-60°C with a humidity of more than 90%; a person can stay in such conditions without a special suit for more than ten minutes. Access to the cave is open only to scientists exploring it in special equipment.

In the cave of crystals. National Geographic film.

Fingal's Singing Cave. Scotland.

Fingal's Cave is located on the southwestern coast of Staffa Island (one of the Hybrid Islands). The island is only 1 kilometer long and half a kilometer wide. Over many millennia, the sea surf and rains have carved out a whole system of caves, the largest of which is the singing cave of Fingal, which received its name in honor of the hero of the Irish and Gaelic epic, the giant Fingal.

The walls of Fingal's Cave are made up of vertical hexagonal basalt columns. The length of the cave is 75 meters, height 20 meters and width 14 meters. In Gaelic the cave is called Uamh-Binn, which can be translated as "cave of melody". Indeed, thanks to the dome-like arch, this place has unique acoustics. In calm weather, the waves of the sea produce peculiar melodic sounds in the cave, in a storm and during sea tides - a loud noise that can be heard for several miles.

The cave has a large arched entrance; you can get into it along a narrow path lined with fragments of basalt columns.

The Gouffre Berger cave is located on the Sornen plateau in the French Alps. The name of the cave comes from Latin word"gufr", which means "abyss", and the name of the scientist Joseph Berger, who discovered it in 1953. This is the first cave to be explored to a depth of more than one kilometer and until 1963 was considered the deepest cave in the world. Its depth is 1271 meters, which is comparable to the height of two Ostankino towers placed on top of each other, and the length of the passages is over 30 kilometers. Today the cave ranks 23rd in depth in the world and 4th in France. However, to this day it is a popular place for speleologists who want to test their skills at a depth of several hundred meters. This cave is technically very difficult. For example, it can take from 15 to 30 hours to rise from the very bottom to the surface. In addition, floods often occur here. Over the past few years, 6 people have died in Berge, five of whom drowned.

Three Bridge Chasm is a limestone cave of the Jurassic period. The Baatara waterfall will fall into its abyss, from a height of 255 meters. This unusual place is located in Lebanon. It was discovered by French bio-spelunker Henri Coiffait in 1952. The cave owes its name to the fact that as it falls into the valley, the stream passes through three natural bridges, each of which hangs over the other. The age of the cave reaches 160 million years! For thousands of years, water from the stream slowly washed the limestone and gradually destroyed the cave arches. After the appearance of the upper bridge it for a long time was destroyed by vertical and circumferential erosion, which, combined with a series of landslides, created the middle and lower bridges.

Even today, the formation of the cave is not complete - and it will not be completed as long as the water flows.

Volcanic cave Cueva de los Verdes. Canary Islands (Spain).

The Cueva de los Verdes cave was formed about five thousand years ago as a result of the eruption of the Corona volcano. When the lava rushed to the ocean, forming the so-called “lava tube” - a tunnel more than 6 kilometers long, one of the longest on the planet.

The lava flow outside was cooled by air and solidified, creating the walls and roof of the tunnel, while molten magma continued to flow inside. This is how it turned out to be volcanic Cueva de los Verdes cave. The hot gases released from the lava, mixing with air, ignited; under the influence high temperature, melting the vault, grooves and swells similar to stalactites appeared on the ceiling of the cave. The remains of the lava, as it solidified, formed many folds and wrinkles, decorating the floor of the cave with intricate patterns.

The cave stretches in the form of a tunnel for 6.1 kilometers from the crater of the volcano to the seashore; the difference is 230 meters. The width of the cave reaches 24 meters, height - up to 15 meters. The air temperature in the cave remains constant throughout the year: 19°C.

The cave has two tiers - the upper, more spacious one, on which there is a concert hall with excellent natural acoustics, which is periodically used for its intended purpose.

At the bottom of the cave, called Jameos del Agua, there is an underground lake.

Ice cave Skaftafell. Iceland.

Ice caves are temporary structures that appear at the edge of glaciers. Such caves have a relatively short lifespan and can be destroyed at any moment. Ice caves are only tens of years old. But they look amazingly beautiful from the inside. One of these caves is located in the Skaftafell Nature Park in Iceland.

Skaftafell Cave was formed in a glacier as a result of melting ice. Melt water together with rain, having collected on the surface of the glacier, rushed into the cracks in streams, penetrating inside and forming peculiar tunnels. Sunlight, penetrating through the thickness of the ice, gives the cave an unusual blue color.

A seven-meter ice tunnel leads into the Skaftafell cave, which gradually narrows to 1 meter.

Ice caves are in a constant state of transformation and can be destroyed at any time. It is safe to visit them only in winter, when severe sub-zero temperatures harden the ice. And even in this case, while inside the cave, you can hear a very frequent crackling sound. This sound does not arise because the cave is ready to collapse, but because the cave moves along with the glacier itself at a certain speed, sometimes reaching 1 meter per day. Every time a glacier moves and comes into contact with solid rock, you can hear this loud, scary grinding sound.

Marble caves. Chile.

Marble Caves are one of the most beautiful places in Patagonia. They are bright blue grottoes filled with water from Lake Carrera. The lake is located

Partially submerged by the lake's turquoise water, the caves can be explored by small boat or kayak. There are three main grottoes in the caves: the Chapel (La capillaries), the Cathedral (El Catedral) and the Cave (Cueva).

Today, this rare and amazing natural wonder is under threat due to plans to build five large dams in the region.

Video. Marble Caves, Patagonia, Chile.

Vardzia is a cave monastery complex of the 12th-13th centuries, located in the south of Georgia, on the border Eastern Europe and Western Asia. Vardzia is a real underground city with many tunnels, stairs and alleys. Located in the valley of the Kura (Mtkvari) river in the steep tuff wall of Mount Erusheti (Bear). Inside the rock there was a place not only for a monastery, but also for several libraries, baths and many residential buildings. A total of 13 levels were built, with natural caves expanded to accommodate 6,000 monks and refugees. There are over 600 different rooms that stretch along the mountain for a distance of more than a kilometer, and the entire underground complex goes deep. rock at 50 meters. Secret passages connecting the premises, the remains of the water supply and irrigation system have been preserved.

A little history:

The ensemble of the Vardzia Monastery was created mainly in 1156-1205, during the reign of George III and his daughter Queen Tamara. Located on the southwestern border of Georgia, the monastery-fortress blocked the Kura River gorge to the invasion of Iranians and Turks from the south. At that time, all the premises of the monastery were hidden by a rock, they were connected to the surface only by three underground passages, through which large detachments of soldiers could appear completely unexpectedly for the enemy. In 1193-1195, during the war with the Seljuk Turks, Queen Tamara was with her court in Vardzia.

The cave city did not last long - a year after construction, the earthquake of 1283 almost completely destroyed it. It was so powerful that it damaged the cave system, causing them to collapse and cascade down Mount Erushelhi. Two-thirds of the secret city was destroyed, exposing secret world inside the mountain. However, the monastery did not give up. It functioned until 1551, but then it was attacked by the Persian khan Sash Tahmasp, who killed all the monks. It was then that Vardzia became empty.

For a long time cave city was in disrepair, but at the end of the last century Vardzia was restored again, and monastic life resumed there. Currently in the monastery ancient city About 10-15 monks live there.

When compiling the review, photographs were used from the Internet, descriptions were translated from local sites where the photographs were found.

Our planet is a place of amazing wonders and unusual mysteries. It would seem that man has mastered even the most remote corners of the Earth, but has not yet discovered all its secrets. In addition to those known to everyone, there is huge amount man-made and natural objects that captivate the imagination and minds of all mankind. Among them is the largest in a unique formation with its own ecosystem. Let's talk about where it is located, when it was discovered and what distinctive features it has.

Shondong: size statistics

Shondong is the largest cave in the world. Such a statement by local residents was supported by facts obtained by a research expedition from England in 2009. According to dry statistical figures, the formation has a volume of about 38.5 million cubic meters, a height of about 200 meters, and a width of about 150 meters. Once in such an underground kingdom, willy-nilly, any person can be confused by the grandeur, size and scope.

History of discovery

The unofficial history of the cave begins in 1991; it was from this period of time that the local population mentioned its presence; before this date, no information was provided. At the same time, we should not forget that the underground grotto of colossal size was formed by the water element for at least two million years in a row. Evidence of the cave's considerable age are huge stalagmites, as well as other bizarre stone formations.

How to get to the cave?

Where is the largest cave in the world? Vietnam, Quang Binh Province - this is the address you will have to follow to visit it. Not far from the border with Laos in these places there is a national natural park called Phong Nha - Ke Bang, this is where a unique natural formation is located. Finding the entrance to the cave is quite difficult, this is due to the fact that it is located in a rather wild area, in the kingdom of mountains and jungle. Perhaps this fact explains the fact that for a long time the underground formation was not discovered and was not explored even after its discovery at the end of the 20th century. Descent underground is carried out using ropes, which is also a rather serious obstacle and test.

Beauty and features of Shondong

What is the largest cave in the world famous for? Photos of the formation amaze with their amazing beauty and scale. First of all, most travelers are amazed by the water that flows in the bowels of the earth and in solid rocks for several kilometers. The most desperate daredevils even pitch tents on its banks, but you won’t be able to enjoy the silence away from civilization here either. The splash of water and the howl of the wind in the depths of the cave create a frightening atmosphere worthy of any horror film.

In addition to the river, Shondong also has its own green spaces and jungle, in which indigenous inhabitants may also be present. So, various insects and snakes are found here, a little less often birds and even monkeys. A unique feature of the local ecosystem is the unique underground climate. Fogs and clouds that are familiar to us are found even underground, which in itself is very unusual and intriguing. In fact, this is explained quite simply: a significant temperature difference between the surface and the underground leads to the formation of clouds and other similar phenomena.

You can visit Son Doong at any time, except during the rainy season. During this period, the caves are filled with water until dangerous level This means that visiting them can be extremely dangerous for the lives of researchers.

Other contenders for the main title

IN different times The title of largest cave in the world was claimed by:

Unique dungeons of the world

Now that you know the name of the largest cave in the world, you can talk about other unique underground kingdoms that are popular among lovers of extreme recreation and unity with nature. So, the list of the most interesting formations can include:

Kingdom of Ice

The world's largest ice cave is located in New Zealand and has the complex name Isrisennvelt; its area is approximately 300 square kilometers, which allows it to be the absolute record holder in its category in terms of size. Beautiful and cold ice formations are found in Iceland (Vatnajekull is prohibited from visiting in the warm season due to the high risks of melting and collapse), in Russia (grotto in Austria.

Movie about a cave

Delight and inspiration - this is what the largest cave in the world evokes in people. Sanctum, a 2011 science fiction film about a cave, tells the story of a group of explorers descending into the depths of uncharted dungeons. A brutal struggle with a dangerous and unknown element leads to very disastrous consequences, reminding viewers not only of the beauty of the caves, but also of the threat to life hidden in their unknown nature.

The largest cave in the world is currently located in Vietnam, but research in order to understand our world is carried out regularly and systematically, which means that unique finds will not be long in coming. It is likely that very soon we will meet new natural phenomena, no less fantastic and beautiful than those already known to mankind.

Caves have always attracted people with their mystery, uniqueness, as well as original combinations of bizarre sculptures, often reminiscent of fantasy images of mythical heroes.

Grottoes often served many people as a roof over their heads, a reliable shelter from bad weather, and a place of blessed hermitage. And now that many of them have become accessible to visitors, anyone can become a little closer to own history, which is so fascinating and alluring.

Kungur cave

She is considered the most beautiful in Russia. And this is not surprising, because, once inside, every person experiences a strong feeling that he has entered the kingdom itself Snow Queen. All this is because the entire cave surface is covered with eternal layers of ice and frost. According to scientists, the age of the ice layers reaches about 10 thousand years.

The views that tourists have the opportunity to admire are truly impressive. Ice droplets here gather into magnificent crystals, shimmering in many colors. This is achieved thanks to a lighting system based on laser illumination. There are also man-made ice sculptures here.

Surprisingly, despite the eternally reigning cold, a person once lived in the cave. This is evidenced by the hermit's hut discovered here, a dug well, as well as a lost bast shoe.

Where is it located and how to get there? The cave is located near the city of Kungur (Perm region). You can get here by bus from Yekaterinburg.

Batovskaya Cave

It is considered the longest cave in all of Russia, because its length reaches about 62,103 meters.

The cave was discovered completely by accident: a local hunter, following the trail of a bear, suddenly came across the entrance to it.

Inside the grotto there are permanent lakes one and a half meters deep and ten meters long. The uniqueness of the attraction lies in the fact that it is based on both limestone and sandstone. And this is rare, since most karst caves consist exclusively of limestone. Botovskaya Cave is considered a cave horizontal type, representing a labyrinth of intricate passages.

Where is it located and how to get there? The object is located in Irkutsk region, near the village of Konoshalovo. It is recommended to consult guides to get to the cave. It is impossible to drive close to the entrance by car.

Barlog's Throat

It is considered the deepest cave in Russia. So, its depth is about 900 meters, and its length reaches 3000 meters. It got its name in honor of the character of the same name from The Lord of the Rings. After all, when the researchers had to go deep down, negotiating the path along a narrow well, it seemed that they had made their way through the throat of a fantastic monster.

The cave is relatively young, as it was discovered only in 1994. The entrance to the grotto is located at the highest point of the Atsgara River; its peak reaches a height of 2825 meters above sea level.

Where is it located and how to get there? Barlog's Throat is located in the Urupsky region of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. Take a bus to Kurdzhinovo, then rent a car. If the road is not washed out, then you can get to Mostovskaya Polyana on the Zagedanka River.

Kapova cave (Shulgan-tash cave)

She gained worldwide fame thanks to Paleolithic drawings. The age of the rock paintings is impressive: about 14–14.5 thousand years. The size of the drawings is also considered rare (ranging from 44–112 centimeters). Some of them are made with red ocher, and the rest with charcoal. Quite curious is the fact that no traces of soot were found on the ceiling of the object (after all, light was required to complete the drawings). But, as it turned out later, ancient people had a certain analogue of a kerosene lamp, in which fat acted as an alternative to kerosene.

As a result of archaeological excavations, it was possible to find human skulls without skeletons. It is assumed that the separate burial of the head indicated the importance of the deceased person. It is possible that the heads belonged to a shaman and leaders, since previously the cave was an analogue of a sanctuary where certain rituals took place.

Where is it located and how to get there? Located in the Burzyansky district of Bashkiria in the Southern Urals, in the Shulgan-Tash nature reserve. You need to go from Ufa to Sterlitamak, turn to Beloretsk. Before reaching it 50 km, turn to Starosubkhangulovo. Drive to Mindigulovo, then follow the sign “Shulgan-Tash”.

Vorontsov Cave

It ranks sixth among the longest caves in Russia (length is 11,720 meters). It is the largest cave system in the Caucasus.

During archaeological excavations in the cave, traces were found ancient man(from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages). And during the period Civil War the grotto acted as a reliable shelter for the Red partisans.

Vorontsovskaya Cave is also called an excellent geological monument. For example, the length of the stalactites is impressive. In the same Labyrinth Cave (which is a continuation of Vorontsovskaya), a stalactite called Rocket rises more than 6 meters high.

Where is it located and how to get there? Located near the city of Sochi. You can get there from Khosta by car. But you should take into account that regular buses will only take you to Kalinovoe Lake, from where you will have to walk 5–7 kilometers.

Akhshtyrskaya cave

The uniqueness of this attraction is that it was once inhabited by primitive people, as evidenced by the discovered objects, traces and rock tempera.

The first settlement arose in a cave 70 thousand years ago. Its main representatives were Neanderthals. Then for 20 thousand years the grotto was empty. And about 30-35 thousand years ago it was inhabited by Cro-Magnons. In later times, people also lived in the cave. Such gaps between settlements arose during a period of time when the cave (based on the same indicators of dampness) was not suitable for habitation. But if people did not live in it, then it was still not empty, becoming a refuge for bears.

Regarding the Akhshtyrskaya Cave, a rather interesting assumption was made by mythologists who claim that Odysseus once met with the Cyclops here.

Where is it located and how to get there? The cave is located 15 kilometers from Adler. You can get there along the way from the trout hatchery or by bus from Adler.

Where is it located and how to get there? Located in Khakassia, 9 kilometers south from the village of Topanova. You can get there along the Shira – Kommunar highway.