On 23/6, the Management Board of Nam Quang Tri Special-Use Forest announced the discovery of the cave in sub-zone 638S, within the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve.
The survey team noted a wide cave entrance, estimated at nearly 70 m across. Approximately 200 m inside, the cave branches into four large passages extending deep into the mountain. Within these branches, numerous pristine stalactite formations display diverse shapes. Under flashlight illumination, these stalactites reflect light, creating striking bands of color.
The survey team believes a larger stalactite system and a shallow underground stream may exist deeper within the cave. However, due to a lack of specialized equipment, authorities only accessed the initial section and could not explore all four branches.
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Stalactite formations inside the cave. Photo: Management Board of Nam Quang Tri Special-Use Forest |
A large sinkhole is located near the newly discovered cave. This site is close to Van Tien Cave in Cat Tria hamlet, Huong Son commune (formerly Huong Hoa district), where a beautiful stalactite system was found over 10 years ago.
According to the Management Board of Nam Quang Tri Special-Use Forest, the geological features suggest the area conceals a large-scale, interconnected underground karst cave system.
The management unit is planning to collaborate with cave research experts to form an in-depth expedition team. This team will map the cave's structure for conservation and guide the future development of ecotourism.
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Forest rangers discovered the cave. Photo: Management Board of Nam Quang Tri Special-Use Forest |
The Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve, spanning over 23,000 ha in western Quang Tri province, features a rugged landscape. It includes high mountains, steep slopes, narrow valleys, and a dense network of rivers and streams.
According to the Department of Nature Conservation and Biodiversity, the reserve boasts rich and diverse flora and fauna, listed in both the Vietnam Red Book and the World Red Book.
Notably, the reserve's ecosystem, ranging from 150-1,700 m above sea level, hosts many endemic plant and animal species that attract interest from national and international scientists. The reserve contains 283 plant species, including 59 rare ones, and endemic fauna such as: 109 mammal species, 207 bird species, 81 reptile and amphibian species, and 33 fish species.
In late april, the British-Vietnamese Cave Expedition team discovered 26 new caves in Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, mapping a total length of 13,643 m. Thien Cung cave, 4,206 m long, is considered to have significant scientific value and substantial potential for exploration.
Dac Thanh
