Son Doong cave is world’s largest cave, located in Son Trach, Bo Trach District, Quang Binh province, Vietnam. This cave was selected as one of the most beautiful in the globe by the BBC news. It is found in 1991 by a local man named Ho Khanh. The name “Son Doong” cave means “mountain river cave”.
Son Doong cave is more than 200 meters wide, 150 meters high, more then 6 kilometers long and it has a jungle and a river inside. The cave may be longer, due to technical conditions, the explorer of the Royal Cave Society could not go all the length of the cave to conclude how long cave is. The jungle found inside of the cave has formed underneath a collapsed roof in one of the caverns. After the roof collapsed, enough light spilled into the cavern that vegetation was able move from outside. For flying foxes and monkeys the cave is a new home.
In 2009, a group of scientists from the British Cave Research Association began an extensive survey of the cave's depths. This is the year when the cave was officially discovered. In early August 2013, the first tourist group explored this cave in a guided tour, costing $3000 each. Next exploration trips will be arranged.
Only one operator have permission to run tours to Son Doong Cave. Only 220 permits for tourists to Son Doong in 2014, so if you want to visit it you must book as soon you can. The tour includes transfers to/from Dong Hoi, accommodation during Tour (2 nights hotel and 5 nights camping), all food and drink during, expert cave instructors and more.
September 11, 2013
Photo source: nationalgeographic.com
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