The wonders and images of Son Doong Caves
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Son Doong, which means “Mountain River Cave” in Vietnamese, is the largest known cave in the world, located in Quang Binh Province, Vietnam. The cave was formed 2-5 million years ago when the limestone was eroded by the river water below the mountain. The cave was initially discovered in 1991 by local farmers fleeing a storm and was unable to find a way back there, and was later rediscovered with the help of British-led Howard Limbert and His caving team explored. Son Doong Cave is 5.5 miles long, 650 feet wide and 500 feet high. With its own river and jungle, Son Doong Cave is a monumental masterpiece of nature.
1. The largest cave in the world:
At 5.5 miles long, 650 feet wide and 500 feet high, Son Doong Cave is five times larger than Phong Nha Cave, which was previously considered the largest cave in Vietnam and officially broke in 2009 by beating a former tile holder. Records – Deer Cave, Malaysia.
2. Camping at Son Doong:
Son Doong Cave was recently opened to the public for guided tours. On a six-day trip organised by travel company Oxalis, tourists camped at the entrance to the giant cave. This photo clearly shows the enormity of the cave, where the campers and the cave are dwarfed by the sheer size.
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3. Self-made caves:
Composed of at least 150 individual caves, Son Doong Cave is self-sufficient as it has its own lake, river, waterfall and jungle.
4. The biggest cave:
Touring the wonders of this mve inside Son Doong includes going deep into the caves to marvel at the giant caves, one of which is the Dog’s Hand, a huge stalagmite resembling a dog’s paw.
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5. Challenging tasks:
Getting to Son Doong Cave is no easy task. This is both a challenge and an adventure. It’s a long and arduous journey that takes a day and a half through dense, uninhabited jungle. Once in the cave, you must rappel down another 260 feet before reaching its entrance. It’s a challenging task for anyone seeking to explore this natural wonder.
6. The Pearl of Nature:
Another spectacle inside Son Doong Cave is a rare cave pearl the size of a baseball. These pearls of various sizes are formed over hundreds of years from deposits of calcite crystals on sand grains. The Son Doong Cave Pearl was discovered by a team who braved the challenge of descending to the cave from a height of 260 feet on a traveling expedition.
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7. Giant Cave:
This massive cave is so huge that it can easily accommodate entire city streets and skyscrapers. The water and limestone that carved it millions of years ago have gradually formed the stunning and unique formation. Roofs have collapsed in places in the cave, creating impressive skylights that allow the underground jungle ecosystem to flourish.
8. Sun Dong’s amazing features:
Son Doong Cave is home to rare fauna not found anywhere else. Ancient fossils can also be found deep in caves. The cave is so large that its looming stalactites form their own clouds above, and a river flows below.
9. Tourism activities:
Tourists are seen walking along the algae-covered landscape. Many people find the journey through the great Son Doong Cave to be torture, but the thrill at the end of it is quite different. The Vietnamese government finally opened the cave to the world after the cave was fully and satisfactorily explored. It doesn’t come cheap to visit this great wonder. It will cost you $3000 and a treacherous trek through dense jungle.