A World Caving Update As At December 1994

J.R.Middleton

Since 1992** world caving exploration has continued at a frenetic pace. Long caves have become longer, deep ones deeper, and many new ones have appeared on the scene. By the end of 1994 there were some 47 systems over 1000m in depth and 28 over 50km in length.

Spain dominates the depth charts with 10 over 1000m to be followed closely by Austria with 8, whilst the USA continues to lead the length listings with 7 over 50km. The only major up-set to the British charts is the amazing arrival of Ogof Ddraenon which was explored from virtually nil metres to over 20km in barely 3 months!

Another statistic is for Nohoch Nah Chich, 40km long, and the Cenote dos Ojos, 30km long, both only 5km apart and likely to be connected shortly in Quintan Roo, Yucatan, Mexico. Good, but not amazing you might say until you realise that ALL the 70km so far explored is UNDERWATER!

Once again I must thank Tony Waltham and Claud Chaubert for providing me with these lists and allowing the club to publish them.

**For 1992 see the YRC Journal Vol.X1 No.40.
 
The Worlds Longest Caves

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9
10
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14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25		 Mammoth Cave System
Optimisticeskaya
Holloch
Jewel Cave
Siebenhegstehohlen System
Wind Cave
Ozernaya
Gua Air Jernih
Lechuguilla
Fisher Ridge Cave
Sistema de Ojo Guarena
Reseau de la Coume d Hyouernede
Zoluska
Sistema Purification
Ease Gill Cave System
Hirlatzhohle
Rauucherkarhohle
Friars Hole System
Organ Cave System
Red del Silencio 
Toca da Boa Vista
Reseau de 1 A1p
Kap-Kutan-Promezutocnaja
Reseau de la Dent de Crolles
Mamo Kanada 		 560km
183km
156km
144.8km
l26km
113.3km
111km
106km
106km
104.5km
97.4km
90.5km
85.5km
79.1km
70.5km
70km
70km
69.2km
60.5km
60km
60km
56.7km
55km
55km
54.8km		 USA, Kentucky
Ukraine
Switzerland
USA, South Dakota
Switzerland
USA, South Dakota
Ukraine
Sarawak
USA, New Mexico
USA, Kentucky
Spain, Burgos
France, Pyrenees
Ukraine
Mexico
England
Austria
Austria
USA,West Virginia
USA,West Virginia
Spain, Picos
Brazil
France, Alps
Turkmenistan
France,Alps
Papua New Guinea

The Worlds Deepest Caves

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4
5
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7
8
9
10
11
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13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25		 Reseau Jean Bernard
Lamprechtsofen
Gouffre Mirolda
Shakta Pantjukhina
Sistema del Trave
Boj Bulok
Puerta de Illamina
Lukina Jama
Sistema Cheve
Ceki Jama
Sneznaja-Mezonnogo
Sistema Huatla
Reseau de la Pierre St Martin
Siebenhegsthohlensystem
Reseau Berger
Platteneck-Bergerhohle
Sima T27
Tocca de los Rebecos
Abisso Paolo Roversi
Sistema V Iljukhin
Abisso Ulififer
Akemati
Schwersystem
Complesso Fighera Corchia
Veliko Sbrego		 1602m
1550m
1520ms
1508m
1441m
1415m
1408m
1390m
1386m
1370m
1370m
1353m
1342m
1284m
1278m
1265m
1255m
1255m
1249m
1240m
1230m
l226m
1219m
1215m		 France, Alps
Austria
France, Alps
Georgia
Spain, Picos
Uzbekistan
Spain,Pyrenees
Croatia
Mexico
Slovenia
Georgia
Mexico
France, Pyrenees
Austria
France, Alps
Austria
Spain, Picos
Spain, Picos
Italy,Appenines
Georgia
Italy,Appenines
Mexico
Austria
Italy Appenines

Britains Deepest Caves

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20		 Ogaf Ffynnon Ddu
Giants-Oxlow System
Daren Cilau
Ease Gill Cave System
Gingling Hole
Penyghent Pot
Gaping Gill System
Ireby-Notts System
Peak-Speedwell System
Meregill
Poll na Gceim
Reyfad Pot
Longwood Swallet
Long Kin West
Swildons Hole
West Kingsdale System
Dale Head Pot
Ogof Agen Allwedd
Nettle Pot
Tatham Wife Hole		 308m
214m
213m
211m
210m
196m
195m
183m
182m
181m
181m
179m
175m
174m
167m
165m
165m
160m
159m
158m		 South Wales
Derbyshire
South Wales
Yorks Dales
Yorks Dales
Yorks Dales
Yorks Dales
Yorks Dales
Derbyshire
Dales
Clare
Fermanagh
Somerset
Yorks Dales
Somerset
Yorks Dales
Yorks Dales
outh Wales
Derbyshire
Yorks Dales

Britains Longest Caves

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7
8
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10
11
12
13
14
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16
17
18
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20		 Ease Gill Cave System
Ogof Ffynnon Ddu
Ogof Agen Allvedd
Daren Cilau
Kingsdale Cave System
Ogof Ddraenan
Gaping Gill Cave System
Dan yr Ogaf
Peak-Speedwell System
Poulnagollam Poulelva
Slaughter Stream Cave
Ireby-Notts System
Mossdale Caverns
Doolin St Catherines
Langcliffe Pot
Swildons Hole
Ogof Craig y Ffynnon
Little Neath River Cave
St Cuthberts Swallet
Reyfad Pot		 70500m
50000m
33000m
27000m
24000m
620000m
16500m
15000m
14000m
13000m
12000m
11100m
10500m
10000m
9600m
9100m
8600m
8200m
7100m
6700m		 Yorks Dales
South Wales
South Wales
South Wales
Yorks Dales
South Wales
Yorks Dales
South Wales
Derbyshire
Clare
Gloucestershire
Yorks Dales
Yorks Dales
Clare
Yorks Dales
Somerset
South Wales
South Wales
Somerset
Fermanagh