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This is the jaw-dropping hidden utopia that a
Bradford couple chanced upon on holiday.
The underground cave is showered with sunlight that pours through two
huge entrances, allowing trees up to 50 metres tall to flourish.
Tucked behind a mountain in Vietnam, Son Doong - meaning river mountain
- has sat peacefully under the human radar for as long as records can
show.
Caves are defined as 'big enough for a human to fit inside'. Towering
above its minuscule explorers, this cave has shocked nature experts.
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Measuring 5.5 miles long, it is home to a lush green forest, cascading
waterfalls, giant stalagmites and stalactites and a river. The cavern is
so large, a 40-story skyscraper could fit within its walls.
The luscious underground forest is home to all sorts of cave-dwelling
creatures from flying foxes to monkeys.
The cave was first explored in 2009 by Howard Limbert, 56, and his wife
Deb, 53.
The couple, who met at a school caving club, took a gamble four years
ago when they dropped their NHS jobs in Bradford to travel the world in
search of new and exciting caves.
They heard about the cave from a local man, Ho Khanh, who had taken
shelter from a storm in the entrance to Son Doong, in the mountains of
Quang Binh in Vietnam 20 years ago.
He heard the sounds of a powerful river and rushing wind, but was too
afraid to venture further in. |
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Mr Khanh told the Limberts about his discovery when he led them as a
guide through the Vietnamese mountains in 2009.
Mr Limbert said: 'Son Doong is unlike any other cave on the planet.
'We were so lucky to have the chance of being the first people to see
this new wonder of the world.
'It is always very exciting to explore somewhere where no one has ever
visited, but to have the chance to explore Son Doong was very special
indeed.'
The couple, married for 34 years, relocated to Vietnam permanently and
set up a business leading tour groups to the heart of the cave.
There have now been 25 specialised expeditions into Son Doong since the
cave was first discovered.
And last month, in a groundbreaking adventure, Mr and Mrs Limbert led
the first public tour.
Six tourists went on the first trip, accompanied by 16 porters, two UK
guides, a Vietnamese English-speaking guide, two National Park rangers
and a porter manager. |
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To enter Son Doong the group of international tourists from Britain,
Australia, the USA and Norway, had to abseil down through the thick
forest under the caves entrance.
Mr Limbert said: 'We have probably lived in the cave now for over four
months in total.
'The tour is incredibly popular and all clients taken so far say it is
the greatest adventure on the planet.'
The couple have been overwhelmed by requests to join expeditions into
the world's largest cave and expect all 220 places on tours next year to
be snapped up fast.
The couple used to work for the NHS as biomedical scientists and spent
most their holidays on caving expeditions.
Mr Limbert said: 'We have both been exploring caves for most of our
adult life and it has enabled us to visit some wonderful places in the
world and meet some fantastic people. We are lucky that we both have the
same interest.
'We explored the caves of the UK during our first few years of caving
and still continue to explore the fascinating caves of Britain.
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'We caved in Europe and then later in Mexico, Borneo, Australia and New
Zealand.
'We first visited Vietnam on a caving expedition in 1990 and now we have
explored over 200m of new unexplored caves during the last 23 years of
our work in the country.'
The intrepid couple believe there may be a larger cave for them to
discover yet.
Mr Limbert said: 'We still believe that an even larger cave could be
found in the remote mountains in central Vietnam.
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'We are leading an expedition of British cavers in March and April next
year to continue our work in the area and hopefully find another cave
larger than Son Doong if that is possible.
'We have only explored around a quarter of the remote mountains and our
guides have found many entrances for us to visit.
'Hopefully early next year we will have the chance to explore more
amazing caves in the area.' |
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