Son Doong Cave named among world’s 10 best: UK Time Out
(VOVWORLD) - Son Doong Cave in Quang Binh province is ranked sixth among the 10 most beautiful caves in the world, according to the British travel magazine Time Out. With 38.5 million cubic meters of space, the 9-kilometer-long cave is the world’s largest natural cave.
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| Natural caves don’t come larger than Son Doong, located in the heart of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh Province. This mammoth cavern boasts the largest cross-section of any known cave on the planet, a vast area that is difficult to describe, according to global magazine Timeout. Theoretically, a Boeing 747 could fly through the cave without damaging its wings, but that description doesn’t really do justice to the true vastness experienced inside Son Doong. (Photo: VNA) |
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| The huge size of the underground passage allows clouds fed by the underground river to build up inside. (Photo: VNA) |
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| Just before the cave exit looms a 90 meter-high calcite barrier, dubbed the “Great Wall of Vietnam.” (Photo: VNA) |
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| Vietnam’s ‘great wall’ is one of the most difficult challenges in an expedition to Son Doong Cave. To conquer the wall guests will need the help of harnesses, ladders, ropes, and professional guides. (Photo: Oxalis Adventures-Ryandeboodt) |
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| Near the cave’s mouth is a gigantic subterranean lake which fills during the winter and spring months. The lake is so huge and so deep that visitors need small boats to glide across it. (Photo: Oxalis Adventures-Ryandeboodt) |
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| Son Doong Cave is 9 kilometers long, but it’s rarely pitch-black inside. That’s because it’s punctuated by two huge ceiling collapses which invite natural light which pours into the cave. (Photo: Oxalis Adventures-Ryandeboodt) |
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| Beneath these vast holes in the ceiling are several underground jungles. As the microclimate of the cave is different than that on the surface, the jungles are also different and feature flora species that you won’t find outside of the cave. (Photo: Oxalis Adventures-Ryandeboodt) |
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| Son Doong Cave’s towering stalagmites and stalactites are nothing short of extraordinary. Some of the stalagmites are taller than the Arc de Triomphe, whilst others form outlandish and mesmerizing shapes. (Photo: Oxalis Adventures-Ryandeboodt) |
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| Two campsites sit at the edges of Son Doong Cave, which means on clear evenings, visitors can star-gaze. (Photo: Oxalis Adventures-Ryandeboodt) |
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| Explorers say Son Doong Cave has an abundant and unique ecosystem. (Photo: Oxalis Adventures-Ryandeboodt) |
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| With various underground rivers and pools in Son Doong Cave, expeditions to the site have plenty of wading, paddling, and swimming opportunities. (Photo: Oxalis Adventures-Ryandeboodt) |
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| Photos of sunbeams and cloud wisps show the special experience found in visiting Son Doong Cave. |