More New Caves Discovered in Lam Hoa, Quang Binh in 2023

Quang Binh, a province in central Vietnam, is famous for its stunning and diverse cave systems. In 2023, a team of explorers from the British-Vietnamese Cave Expedition Team led by Howard Limbert made a remarkable discovery of 22 new caves in Lam Hoa commune, Tuyen Hoa district and Hoa Phuc commune, Hoa Son district. These caves have a total length of 11.7 km and have unique features that make them different from many other caves in Quang Binh.

The Team spent three weeks surveying the caves with the support of local guides and porters. They encountered various challenges such as dense jungle, steep hills, and fast-flowing rivers. They also had to use ropes and harnesses to descend into some of the caves.

According to Howard Limbert, the leader of the team, the newly discovered caves are mostly wet caves, meaning that they have water flowing through them. Some of the caves have multiple entrances and exits, creating interesting cross paths and interconnections. Some of the caves also have waterfalls, fossils, cave pearls, and rare formations.

One of the most impressive caves is Nuoc Ngam Cave, which has a depth of 278 m and a waterfall that flows down from the ceiling. The team did not have enough ropes to reach the bottom of the cave, so they plan to return for further exploration. Another notable cave is Nuoc Lan 3 Cave, which has a large chamber with a diameter of 100 m and a height of 80 m. The cave also has a beautiful skylight that allows sunlight to enter.

Mr Howard Limbert recommends that Quang Binh conduct more research and evaluation on the safety, ceiling height, flow, geomorphology, and geology of the caves before opening them for tourism. They also predict that there are still many more caves to be discovered in Lam Hoa commune.

The discovery of the new caves adds to the richness and diversity of the cave systems in Quang Binh, which is home to hundreds of caves, including the world's largest cave, Son Doong. Quang Binh is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts a high biodiversity and a unique culture.

If you are interested in visiting the caves in Quang Binh, you can contact Oxalis Adventure, the only licensed tour operator for cave expeditions in the province. Oxalis Adventure offers a variety of tours that cater to different levels of fitness and adventure, from one-day treks to four-day expeditions.

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