The cave is so massive that if people get lost they won’t be able to find a way out
The longest labyrinth of underground tunnels has been discovered in Meghalaya, India. With a length of 24,583 metres, the system is the longest sandstone cave ever explored.
Even though the cave was discovered in 2016, it has taken two years to explore and measure its length. The current figures have been calculated by an expedition led by Brian Daly Kharpran between 5 February and 1 March.
This underground cavern beats the Cueva Del Saman in Edo Zulia, Venezuela, previously considered to be the longest cave, by 6,000 metres.
“This sandstone cave has also become India’s second longest cave in the general category after the limestone Krem Liat Prah-Umim-Labit system measuring a little over 31 kilometres in Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya,” said Kharpran.
“Overall, the 2018 expedition explored and mapped 22.8 kilometres of new cave passages.”
Krem Puri: World’s longest sandstone cave discovered in Meghalaya. near Laitsohum village in Mawsynram area in East Khasi Hills. The cave is 24,583 metres (24.5 km) in length and 6,000 metres longer than previous world record-holder Cueva Del Saman in Edo Zulia, Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/Z4HV4zgf7Z
— Nandan Pratim Sharma Bordoloi ?? (@NANDANPRATIM) April 3, 2018
Explorers said the cave is so massive that if people get lost inside they wouldn’t be able to find a way out.
But Krem Puri has much more to offer to the travellers than just its length. The cave is home to fossils of dinosaurs, especially the mosasaurus – a giant reptile, that attracts many palaeontologists from across the world.
Because of its unique features, history, and current obscurity, the scientists call it a fairy-cave.
The area of Meghalaya is home to more than 1,650 caves, of which explorers have mapped or partially explored over 1,000. According to official data, the state has 491 kilometres of surveyed caves.
