Length of Mammoth Cave Extended

Mammoth Cave National Park, home to the world’s longest-known cave system, is now even longer. Mapping and exploration by the Cave Research Foundation has revealed 8 new miles to the Mammoth Cave system, making the total count 420 known miles of passages!

Context

Mammoth Cave National Park, home to the world’s longest-known cave system, is now even longer. Mapping and exploration by the Cave Research Foundation has revealed 8 new miles to the Mammoth Cave system, making the total count 420 known miles of passages!

About the Cave

• Location: South Central Kentucky
• Mammoth Cave was created by the natural process of limestone erosion, known as karst topography. 
  • During this process, rain and rivers slowly dissolve and shape soft limestone, creating a vast system of caves. 
  • Underground rivers are still carving new passages today. 
• It received its official designation as the world’s longest cave system in 1969. At the time, there were 65 miles of surveyed passageways.