Scientists have discovered the deepest-known cave on Earth, called Veryovkina Cave. Located in the Arabika Massif of the Gagra mountain range in Georgia, the cave is an incredible 2,223 meters (7,257 ft) deep. This makes it the deepest-known cave on the planet, beating the previous record holder, Krubera Cave, which is also located in the same region.
The entrance to Veryovkina Cave is 2,285 meters (7,497 ft) above sea level, and the entrance shaft is 32 meters (105 ft) deep. The cave is located on the pass between the Krepost and Zont mountains, close to the slopes of Mount Krepost. The cave’s entrance has a cross-section of 3 meters by 4 meters (9.8 ft by 13.1 ft).
The difference in elevation between the highest cave entrance (Arbaika) and the deepest explored point in Veryovkina Cave is an incredible 2,199 ± 20 meters (7,215 ± 66 ft). This means that the cave is a true wonder of nature, and exploring it is a feat of human endurance and ingenuity.
The Ukrainian Speleological Association expedition first reached a depth of 1,710 meters (5,610 ft) in 2001, which exceeded the depth of the previous deepest-known cave, Lamprechtsofen, in the Austrian Alps, by 80 meters (260 ft). In 2004, the same team reached a depth greater than 2,000 meters (6,600 ft), exploring the cave to −2,080 meters (−6,824 ft). Ukrainian diver Gennadiy Samokhin extended the cave by diving in the terminal sump to 46 meters’ depth in 2007 and then to 52 meters in 2012, setting successive world records of 2,191 meters and 2,197 meters, respectively.
The discovery of Veryovkina Cave is an exciting development for scientists and explorers alike. It highlights the incredible natural wonders that exist on our planet and the human spirit of adventure and exploration. The cave is a testament to the power of nature and the resilience of the human spirit, and it is sure to inspire future generations of explorers and scientists.
