Published:  08:13 Friday - April 13, 2012

A group of British explorers have discovered a cave that is much more beautiful than Son Doong, which is considered the biggest and most beautiful cave in the world.

Quang Binh’s man Ho Khanh, who found out Son Doong, is also the one who discovered the new cave, which is named Va.

Khanh said that this cave is only 1.7km long and it is just 400 meters from Son Doong. However, the new cave is highly appreciated for its beauty.

English explorers also found out an additional 8 caves, raising the number of newly-discovered caves to 15.

The complex of caves in Phong Nha-Ke Bang holds many records: the area with the largest system of caves, the area with the highest number of underground rivers, and having the largest and longest dry cave.

The most famous cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang is Son Doong. The cave was found by a Ho Khanh, a local man in 1991. However, not until 2009 was it made known to the public when a group of British scientists from the British Cave Research Association, led by Dr. Howard Limbert, conducted a survey in Phong Nha-Ke Bang from April 10-14, 2009. 

Their progress was stopped by a large calcite wall. According to Limbert, this cave is five times larger than the Phong Nha cave, previously considered the biggest cave in Vietnam. 

The biggest chamber of Son Doong is over five kilometers in length, 200 meters high and 150 meters wide. With these dimensions, Son Doong overtakes Deer Cave in Malaysia to take the title of the world's largest cave.

The cave has been known worldwide after a report and pictures of British scientists’ exploration were published on the National Geographic journal in late 2010.

Source: VietNamNet