List of longest caves

This list of longest caves includes caves in which the combined length of documented passageways exceeds 100 kilometres (62 mi). In some of these caves, passageways are still being discovered.[1][2]

Geographical distribution

Caves are found around the world, though the largest tend to form in karstic landscapes, where soluble rocks such as carbonates and evaporites are dissolved by groundwater.[3] Though karst cave formation is complex, preferable conditions include a high density of joints or fractures in the rock, suitable rainfall to maintain groundwater levels, and low topography to allow for ease of infiltration.[3]

The highest concentrations of long caves in the world are found in the Pennyroyal Plateau of southern Kentucky, United States, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, United States, and in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico.

List

# System Length Location Coordinates Discovery Associated parks,
protected areas
1 Mammoth Cave 685.6 km (426.0 mi)[4][5] near Brownsville, Kentucky, United States 37°11′15″N 86°06′13″W / 37.18758°N 86.10357°W / 37.18758; -86.10357 (Mammoth cave historic entrance) Prehistoric Mammoth Cave National Park, also a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, and International Dark Sky Park
2 Sistema Ox Bel Ha 541.7 km (336.6 mi)[6][1][7] near Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico 20°09′37″N 87°29′15″W / 20.16028°N 87.48750°W / 20.16028; -87.48750 (Sistema Ox Bel Ha) Prehistoric southern parts in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
3 Shuanghedong Cave Network 440.9 km (274.0 mi)[8][9] Guizhou, China 28°14′31″N 107°16′34″E / 28.24199°N 107.27608°E / 28.24199; 107.27608 (Shuanghe Dongqun) 1988 Suiyang Shuanghedong National Geopark
4 Sistema Sac Actun / Sistema Dos Ojos 387.1 km (240.5 mi)[2] near Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico 20°14′48″N 87°27′51″W / 20.246556°N 87.464111°W / 20.246556; -87.464111 (Gran Cenote) Prehistoric
5 Jewel Cave 354.59 km (220.3 mi)[10][11] near Custer, South Dakota, United States 43°43′46″N 103°49′46″W / 43.72944°N 103.82944°W / 43.72944; -103.82944 (Jewel Cave) 1900 Jewel Cave National Monument
6 Wind Cave 270.4 km (168.0 mi)[12][13] near Hot Springs, South Dakota, United States 43°33′29″N 103°28′46″W / 43.55804°N 103.47955°W / 43.55804; -103.47955 (Wind Cave) 1881 Wind Cave National Park
7 Clearwater Cave System 268.6 km (166.9 mi)[14][15] near Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia 4°03′55″N 114°49′54″E / 4.06529°N 114.83176°E / 4.06529; 114.83176 (Clearwater Cave) 1978 Gunung Mulu National Park, also a World Heritage Site
8 Optymistychna Cave 264.5 km (164.4 mi)[16] near Korolivka, Ukraine 48°44′20″N 25°59′22″E / 48.738830378°N 25.989496042°E / 48.738830378; 25.989496042 (Grotte Optimiste) 1966 Dniester Canyon National Nature Park
9 Lechuguilla Cave 244.7 km (152.0 mi)[17][18] near Carlsbad, New Mexico, United States 32°11′26″N 104°30′12″W / 32.1906420°N 104.5033091°W / 32.1906420; -104.5033091 (Grotte de Lechuguilla) 1900 Carlsbad Caverns National Park
10 Fisher Ridge Cave System 215.9 km (134.2 mi)[12] near Brownsville, Kentucky, United States 37°11′30″N 85°58′48″W / 37.191736°N 85.980122°W / 37.191736; -85.980122 (Fisher Ridge Cave System) 1981 partly within Mammoth Cave National Park
11 Sistema del Alto Tejuelo 217.9 km (135.4 mi)[19] Cantabria, Spain 43°15′11″N 3°40′51″W / 43.2530670°N 3.6807990°W / 43.2530670; -3.6807990 (Sistema del Alto Tejuelo) 1965
12 Hölloch 213.1 km (132.4 mi)[20][21] Muotathal, Switzerland 46°58′36″N 8°47′18″E / 46.976670°N 8.788330°E / 46.976670; 8.788330 (Hölloch) 1875
13 Siebenhengste-Hohgant-Höhle 164.5 km (102.2 mi)[22][23] Switzerland 46°47′02″N 7°54′04″E / 46.783822°N 7.901231°E / 46.783822; 7.901231 (Siebenhengste-Hohgant-Höhle) 1966
14 Schönberg Cave System 156.9 km (97.49 mi)[24][25][26] Austria 47°42′06″N 13°46′20″E / 47.701528°N 13.772333°E / 47.701528; 13.772333 (Schönberg Cave System) 1976
15 Mortillano system 147.8 km (91.84 mi)[27] Cantabria, Spain 43°13′51″N 3°33′43″W / 43.23082°N 3.56197°W / 43.23082; -3.56197 (Mortillano system) 1960
16 Priest's Grotto 142.1 km (88.30 mi)[28] Ukraine 48°45′52″N 25°57′57″E / 48.7644444°N 25.9658330555°E / 48.7644444; 25.9658330555 (Priest's Grotto) 1940
17 Schwarzmooskogel-Höhlensystem 137.7 km (85.56 mi)[25] Austria 47°39′43″N 13°48′11″E / 47.661940°N 13.803060°E / 47.661940; 13.803060 (Schwarzmooskogel-Höhlensystem) 1929
18 Réseau Félix Trombe 127.2 km (79.04 mi)[29] France 42°58′21″N 0°51′59″E / 42.972500°N 0.866390°E / 42.972500; 0.866390 (Réseau Félix Trombe) 1908
19 Marosakabe cave system 124 km (77.05 mi)[30][31] Madagascar 16°27′07″S 45°20′08″E / 16.45189°S 45.33543°E / -16.45189; 45.33543 (Zohy Tsongom'omby) 2006 Tsingy de Namoroka Strict Nature Reserve
20 Bullita Cave 123 km (76.43 mi)[32][33] Australia 16°03′48″S 130°23′00″E / 16.063330°S 130.383330°E / -16.063330; 130.383330 (Bullita Cave) 1990 Gregory National Park
21 Helms Deep Cave 119.8 km (74.44 mi)[12][34] · [35] Perry County, Tennessee, United States 35°34′00″N 87°41′00″W / 35.566667°N 87.683333°W / 35.566667; -87.683333 (Helms Deep Cave) 1970
22 Sistema del Gandara 119.0 km (73.94 mi)[36][37] Cantabria, Spain 43°11′34″N 3°34′46″W / 43.1927260°N 3.5794850°W / 43.1927260; -3.5794850 (Sistema del Gandara) 2005
23 Hirlatzhöhle 117.8 km (73.20 mi)[24] Austria 47°32′42″N 13°37′51″E / 47.544975°N 13.630953°E / 47.544975; 13.630953 (Hirlatzhöhle) 1949
24 Toca da Boa Vista 114 km (70.84 mi)[38] Brazil 10°09′45″S 40°51′35″W / 10.162500°S 40.859722°W / -10.162500; -40.859722 (Toca da Boa Vista) 1987
25 Ojo Guareña 111 km (68.97 mi)[39][40] Spain 43°02′02″N 3°37′50″W / 43.03376°N 3.63059°W / 43.03376; -3.63059 (Ojo Guareña) 1956
26 Sistema K'oox Baal 103.9 km (64.56 mi)[2][41] near Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico 20°22′21″N 87°25′02″W / 20.372622°N 87.417239°W / 20.372622; -87.417239 (Sistema K'oox Baal) 1987
27 Sistema Purificacion 101.4 km (63.01 mi)[42][43] Mexico 24°04′03.30″N 99°33′54.93″W / 24.0675833°N 99.5652583°W / 24.0675833; -99.5652583 (Sistema Purification) 1970
28 Sistema Huautla 100.2 km (62.26 mi)[44][42] Mexico 18°07′16.37″N 96°48′00.03″W / 18.1212139°N 96.8000083°W / 18.1212139; -96.8000083 (Sótano de San Agustin, Sistema Huautla) 1965

See also

References

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  2. ^ a b c "Dry Caves and Sumps of Quintana Roo Mexico". Quintana Roo Speleological Survey. National Speleological Society. 2025-01-19. Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  3. ^ a b Zerga, Belay (2024). "Karst topography: Formation, processes, characteristics, landforms, degradation and restoration: A systematic review". Watershed Ecology and the Environment. 6 (252–269). doi:10.1016/j.wsee.2024.10.003. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  4. ^ "Exploration in the World's Longest Cave" (PDF). Retrieved 2017-12-03..
  5. ^ Emily Deletter (September 13, 2022). "Mammoth Cave discovers 6 more miles, still the longest cave system in the world". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
  6. ^ "CINDAQ 2025 Annual report". El Centro Investigador del Sistema Acuífero de Quintana Roo A.C.(CINDAQ). February 18, 2026. Retrieved February 18, 2026.
  7. ^ Bill Mixon. Mexico news (PDF). Vol. 34. p. 22. Retrieved 2014-06-01..
  8. ^ "Grottes et karsts de Chine-Shuanghedongqun - 双河洞". Retrieved 2023-12-06..
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  10. ^ "Jewel Cave Cave Exploration". National Park Service (NPS). January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  11. ^ "Jewel Cave Reaches 200 Miles". National Park Service (NPS). December 19, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  12. ^ a b c Paul Burger (2025-01-25). "USA Long Cave List". Retrieved 2025-02-01.
  13. ^ "150 miles and counting: Wind Cave celebrates significant milestone". National Park Service (NPS). October 18, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  14. ^ Eavis, Rob (April–May 2016). "What a Rollercoaster". Descent (249): 24–29.
  15. ^ "The Clearwater Cave System". mulucaves.org. Retrieved 2025-12-05.
  16. ^ "optymistychna is the longest cave in ukraine". ukrainegoodnews.com. 2014-06-04.
  17. ^ "Lechuguilla Cave Info". 2022. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  18. ^ "Lechuguilla Cave". National Park Service (NPS). July 17, 2019. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
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  27. ^ "Mortillano !!!! 146,5 Km.!!!!" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2016-09-13..
  28. ^ "Найдовші печери України (від 1000 м.)" (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2022-03-27..
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  41. ^ Zdeněk Motyčka. K'oox baall, the fourth-longest underwater cave system in the world (PDF). Vol. 37. pp. 149–155. Retrieved 2014-05-01..
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  43. ^ Hose Louise D (April 1996). "Geology of a large, hight-relief, subtropical cave system: sistema Purification, Tamaupilas, Mexico" (PDF). Journal of Caves and Karst Studies. 58 (1): 6–21. Retrieved 2024-05-06.
  44. ^ "The PESCH Mission". Retrieved 2023-04-06.
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