About 31 years ago, in 1991, the largest cave in the world was discovered in Vietnam, a large part of which is still unknown. Even though we say it was discovered for this cave, unfortunately it is not that easy for such a large and magnificent cave to meet people. If we talk about why it is not easy;
Discovered by chance by a man named Ho Khan, Han Son Doong has a very large entrance, causing Ho to come back at first, afraid to go inside. Afterwards, despite numerous efforts by both he and other travelers to find the cave again, failure to find its location brings with it the inevitable result. However, Ho manages to find the entrance of this gigantic cave again after years by searching the area where he remembers the existence of the cave without giving up. Afterwards, they start their investigations at the entrance of the cave by contacting the travelers they have worked with before.
It is so big that it is possible to fit New York City in it!
Han Son Doong, which literally means “Mountain River Cave” when translated, contains rivers, small caves made up of many mountains and a rainforest called “Garden of Edam” as the name suggests. When the size of Han Son Doong, who hides many more formations along with what we have mentioned, is determined by laser measuring devices, it turns out that he is large enough to contain the whole of New York City!
It is so big that it even has its own climate and ecosystem.
For example, the penetration of sun rays through the holes formed on the surface as a result of melting collapse, heating the rivers and creating clouds in the air. Also, thanks to the rainforest, there are fish, spiders, crabs, snakes, monkeys, even endangered tigers and rare languars, as well as various plants.
Studies show that it is 3 million years old.
It is stated that geological structures called cave pearls, stalagmites and phytokarsts are formed depending on the biological characteristics of the cave and the underground waters. In addition, based on the limestones found on its surface, it is claimed that the cave has been in existence for 3 million years.
With parts that have not yet been discovered, the magnificent cave hosts nearly 1000 tourists on certain dates under the name of exploration tourism today. Various activities such as camping, trekking and climbing are organized for people. It would not be surprising to say that these natural values, which are rare in our world, should be protected, but they are in high demand by people, even though they are endangered under the name of a kind of tourism.
Sources: Google Arts & Culture, Evolution Tree, Express
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