Where is it?
Deep within Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park lies Hang Son Doong, the world’s largest natural cave. Named one of “Earth’s most beautiful places” by the BBC, this cave is a true wonder.
Why is it called a “maze”?
✅ 150 connected caves: Its twisting tunnels stretch over 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), forming a giant underground puzzle.
✅ Skylights and rivers: Formed 55 million years ago by underground rivers eroding limestone, collapsed ceilings created “skylights” that let sunlight and rain nourish forests and rivers inside the cave.
What’s inside?
✅ Underground jungle: Sunlight from skylights feeds trees growing inside the cave, home to monkeys, bats, and birds.
✅ A cave that rains: Humid air forms clouds at the cave ceiling, creating rain and its own tiny weather system.
✅ Cave pearls: Baseball-sized limestone balls formed by water droplets depositing minerals over hundreds of years.
How do people explore it?
✅ Extreme challenge: Visitors must trek 50 kilometers (31 miles) over 6 days, climb 90-meter (295-foot) cliffs, and cross underground rivers. Only 300 people per year are allowed (fewer than those who climb Mount Everest!).
✅ Safety rules: The Vietnamese government permits only one licensed tour company. Visitors must apply a year in advance and pass health checks.
Mind-blowing stats
✅ Fits 7.2 billion people: The cave’s vast chambers could hold the entire global population.
✅ Taller than skyscrapers: The highest point reaches 200 meters (656 feet)—as tall as a 40-story building.
Tips
⚠️Adventurers must sign safety agreements—there’s no phone signal, and navigation relies on expert guides.
🌍 This isn’t just a cave; it’s a living geological museum, showcasing 50 million years of Earth’s history.
(Data source: Vietnam National Geographic Institute, 2023)
Note this article was translated from it’s english version by Google Translator.