List of longest caves
From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Mammoth Cave, the world's longest known cave system
The following is a list of the world's 10 longest caves per length of documented passageways. Many passageways are still being discovered; this list is based on the latest verifiable data.[1][2]
Geographical distribution
Caves are found around the world. The largest form in areas of karst landforms whose rocks erode easily and create caves. Preferable conditions for cave formation are adequate precipitation, enough plants and animals to produce ample carbon dioxide, and a landscape of gentle hills which drains slowly. The highest concentrations of long caves in the world are found in the Pennyrile of Southern Kentucky, USA, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, USA, and in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico.
| System | Length | Location | Discovery | Associated parks, protected areas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mammoth Cave | Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).[1] | near Brownsville, Kentucky, United States | 1791 | Mammoth Cave National Park, also a World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve |
| Sistema Sac Actun / Sistema Dos Ojos | Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).[1][2] | near Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico | 1987 | none |
| Jewel Cave | Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).[1] | near Custer, South Dakota, United States | 1900 | Jewel Cave National Monument |
| Sistema Ox Bel Ha | Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).[1][2] | near Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico | 1996 | southern parts in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve |
| Optymistychna Cave | Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).[1] | near Korolivka, Ukraine | 1966 | none |
| Wind Cave | Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).[1] | near Hot Springs, South Dakota, United States | 1881 | Wind Cave National Park |
| Lechuguilla Cave | Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).[1] | near Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States | 1900 | Carlsbad Caverns National Park |
| Hölloch | Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).[1] | Muotathal, Switzerland | 1875 | none |
| Clearwater Cave/Gua Air Jernih | Lua error in Module:Convert at line 1851: attempt to index local 'en_value' (a nil value).[1] | Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia | 1978 | Gunung Mulu National Park, also a World Heritage Site |
