Chance discovery of a mysterious lake hanging on a cave wall in a limestone mountain region hundreds of millions of years old

The Hung Thoong cave system (hung in the local language means valley) is located deep in the core zone of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park (Bo Trach district, Quang Binh ). This area with many caves such as Tron cave, Hung cave, Thung cave, Nightmare sinkhole... located in the strictly protected area of the park, is assessed by cave experts as a very unique and different cave system.

Hung Thoong cave system is located deep in the core zone of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park.

Hung Thoong is surrounded by a system of million-year-old limestone mountains and primeval forests. The only way to access these caves is to walk along the forest trails.

With the beauty and mystery of natural creations, this area attracts exploration enthusiasts. Many discoveries have been announced, making the caves, underground rivers, and sinkholes in Hung Thoong more attractive.

During the exploration process, in May 2024, an expedition team of a travel company in Phong Nha town, Bo Trach district (Quang Binh) discovered a mysterious hanging lake in a branch of Thung cave.

Experts explore caves and sinkholes in Hung Thoong.

Cave expert Nguyen Van Uy, Director of Safety at Jungle Boss Travel Company, said that it takes a lot of luck to discover the special lake that is "right in front of your eyes."

"On that expedition, we decided to leave earlier than usual, so we had the chance to encounter a mysterious lake hanging on the cave wall," Mr. Uy shared.

Mr. Uy said that on this expedition, the air temperature inside and outside the cave did not have a big difference, so visibility was better. The team members were curious about a special black spot in the far side of the cave. With their experience in cave exploration, they were determined to clarify the suspicion of a new discovery.

Finding and accessing the Floating Lake is difficult.

"After a period of searching, the survey team discovered a small, narrow path located high up, close to the cave wall, with a width of less than 1 meter. Going closer to the end of the alley, we were even more surprised to discover a deep, bottomless turquoise lake located on the cave wall. Although it was not too far from the cave entrance or the exploration route, we had to be lucky to discover it because it was quite hidden and had limited visibility," Mr. Uy shared.

This mysterious lake has a surface area of about 100m2, surrounded by stalactites, located about 1km from the cave entrance. What is special is that the lake is located about 15m higher than the underground river in the cave, so it looks like it is hanging on the cave wall. After conquering the small path, the survey team named this place Lung Trung Alley and Lo Lung Lake.

This mysterious lake has a surface area of about 100 square meters, surrounded by stalactites, located about 1 km from the cave entrance, about 15 meters higher than the underground river in the cave.

Mr. Uy had participated in many survey trips, even swam along the underground river right below but did not discover the Floating Lake above his head due to limited visibility.

The unique structure of the Floating Lake surprised many people. Cave experts in the expedition team confirmed that, unlike hundreds of lakes in Thung Cave, Floating Lake is long and surrounded by a thick, solid layer of limestone. One corner of the lake is adjacent to a deep sinkhole and most likely, the source of the lake's water originates from here.

In particular, there is a stalactite block suspended above the lake surface. This is a rare stalactite form because to form this structure as well as in this unique location requires many factors, including the process of formation and repeated destruction.

Stalactites hang suspended above the lake surface.

Mr. Le Luu Dung, General Director of Jungle Boss Travel Company, said that along with the discovery of Lo Lung Lake and Lung Chung Alley, the survey and cave exploration team of this unit will continue to explore deeper into other caves and sinkholes - places that promise to contain many unique mysteries of the geological structure of Phong Nha - Ke Bang.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/co-duyen-tim-ra-ho-nuoc-bi-an-trèo-tren-vach-hang-dong-o-vung-nui-da-voi-hang-tram-trieu-nam-tuoi-169250211145451695.htm