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Top 10 Largest Caves in the World by Volume

The ten largest known caves in the world, ranked by volume from Vietnam's colossal Son Doong Cave to China's Shuanghedong Cave Network.

Updated August 4, 2026 10 ranked 4 sources

Quick answer: 1. Son Doong Cave, 2. Miao Room Cave, 3. Mammoth Cave System, 4. Sac Actun, 5. Sistema Dos Ojos, 6. Jewel Cave, 7. Mulu Caves (Sarawak Chamber), 8. Sistema Ox Bel Ha, 9. Optymistychna Cave, 10. Shuanghedong Cave Network.

Caves represent some of the most extraordinary natural features on Earth — vast underground chambers carved by water over millions of years. The largest known caves have volumes measured in millions of cubic metres, with chambers large enough to accommodate skyscrapers, jungles, and entire city blocks. These subterranean worlds contain unique ecosystems, ancient rivers, and geological formations found nowhere else on the surface. This list ranks the ten largest known caves in the world by their total volume in cubic metres, based on data from speleological surveys and laser-mapping expeditions.

Volume (million m³)

Volume (million m³)
Son Doong Cave
38.5 million m³
Miao Room Cave
10.8 million m³
Mammoth Cave System
9.5 million m³
Sac Actun
8.5 million m³
Sistema Dos Ojos
7.5 million m³
Jewel Cave
7.2 million m³
Mulu Caves (Sarawak Chamber)
7 million m³
Sistema Ox Bel Ha
6.5 million m³
Optymistychna Cave
5.5 million m³
Shuanghedong Cave Network
5 million m³

The ranking

1

Son Doong Cave

Son Doong Cave in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam, is the largest known cave in the world by volume at 38.5 million cubic metres. Discovered in 2009 by a British caving team, it stretches over 5 km with sections reaching 200 m high and 150 m wide. Its largest chamber could accommodate an entire New York City block including skyscrapers, and it contains a thriving jungle ecosystem with its own river and weather system.

Location: Phong Nha-Ke Bang, VietnamLength: 5+ kmMax height: 200 mDiscovered: 2009
2

Miao Room Cave

The Miao Room Cave in Ziyun County, Guizhou, China, is the second-largest cave chamber in the world with a volume of 10.78 million cubic metres. Its dimensions were revealed during a laser-mapping expedition supported by the National Geographic Society. The chamber is accessible only through an underground stream and is part of the larger Gebihe cave system.

Location: Guizhou, ChinaAccess: Underground stream onlySurvey: National Geographic LiDARPart of: Gebihe cave system
3

Mammoth Cave System

Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, USA, is the longest known cave system in the world with over 676 km of explored passageways. While its total volume is not precisely measured, it is the third-largest cave by volume with an estimated 9.5 million cubic metres. The system has been explored for thousands of years, with prehistoric Native American remains found within its passages.

Location: Kentucky, USALength: 676 kmStatus: Longest cave systemDesignation: UNESCO World Heritage Site
4

Sac Actun

Sac Actun in Quintana Roo, Mexico, is the longest underwater cave system in the world, with over 370 km of explored passages. Its total volume is estimated at 8.5 million cubic metres. The system is a crucial archaeological site containing Mayan artefacts and remains from the Pleistocene era, including extinct megafauna fossils.

Location: Quintana Roo, MexicoLength: 370+ kmType: Underwater cave systemArchaeological significance: Mayan artefacts, Pleistocene fossils
5

Sistema Dos Ojos

Sistema Dos Ojos (Two Eyes System) in Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico, is an underwater cave system with an estimated volume of 7.5 million cubic metres. With over 80 km of explored passages, it is one of the longest underwater cave systems in the world. The name comes from two nearby sinkholes that resemble a pair of eyes.

Location: Tulum, MexicoLength: 80+ kmType: Underwater cave systemNotable feature: Two cenote entrances
6

Jewel Cave

Jewel Cave in the Black Hills of South Dakota, USA, is the third-longest cave in the world with over 320 km of mapped passages. Its total volume is estimated at 7.2 million cubic metres. The cave is renowned for its spectacular calcite crystal formations, including nailhead spar and dogtooth spar crystals that line the walls and ceilings.

Location: South Dakota, USALength: 320+ kmKnown for: Calcite crystal formationsDiscovered: 1900
7

Mulu Caves (Sarawak Chamber)

The Mulu Caves in Gunung Mulu National Park, Borneo, Malaysia, include the Sarawak Chamber — one of the largest known cave chambers in the world. The chamber measures 600 m long, 415 m wide and 100 m high, with a volume of approximately 7 million cubic metres. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its extraordinary karst formations.

Location: Borneo, MalaysiaLargest chamber: Sarawak ChamberChamber dimensions: 600 m × 415 m × 100 mDesignation: UNESCO World Heritage Site
8

Sistema Ox Bel Ha

Sistema Ox Bel Ha in Quintana Roo, Mexico, is an underwater cave system with an estimated volume of 6.5 million cubic metres. With over 270 km of explored passages, it is the fourth-longest underwater cave system in the world. The name means 'Three Paths of Water' in the Yucatec Maya language.

Location: Quintana Roo, MexicoLength: 270+ kmType: Underwater cave systemName meaning: Three Paths of Water (Maya)
9

Optymistychna Cave

Optymistychna (Optimistic) Cave in Korolivka, Ukraine, is the longest gypsum cave in the world with over 265 km of explored passages. Its total volume is estimated at 5.5 million cubic metres. Discovered in 1966, it is one of the most complex maze caves in the world, with dozens of kilometres of new passages still being discovered each year.

Location: Korolivka, UkraineLength: 265+ kmType: Gypsum maze caveDiscovered: 1966
10

Shuanghedong Cave Network

The Shuanghedong (Double River) Cave Network in Guizhou, China, is one of the longest cave systems in Asia with over 200 km of explored passages. Its total volume is estimated at 5 million cubic metres. The system features multiple levels of passages, underground rivers, and enormous chambers, and is still being actively explored by Chinese and international caving teams.

Location: Guizhou, ChinaLength: 200+ kmType: Multi-level cave systemStatus: Still being explored

Full comparison

# Name LocationLengthMax heightDiscoveredAccessSurveyPart ofStatusDesignationTypeArchaeological significanceNotable featureKnown forLargest chamberChamber dimensionsName meaning
1 Son Doong Cave Phong Nha-Ke Bang, Vietnam5+ km200 m2009————————————
2 Miao Room Cave Guizhou, China———Underground stream onlyNational Geographic LiDARGebihe cave system—————————
3 Mammoth Cave System Kentucky, USA676 km—————Longest cave systemUNESCO World Heritage Site———————
4 Sac Actun Quintana Roo, Mexico370+ km———————Underwater cave systemMayan artefacts, Pleistocene fossils—————
5 Sistema Dos Ojos Tulum, Mexico80+ km———————Underwater cave system—Two cenote entrances————
6 Jewel Cave South Dakota, USA320+ km—1900————————Calcite crystal formations———
7 Mulu Caves (Sarawak Chamber) Borneo, Malaysia———————UNESCO World Heritage Site————Sarawak Chamber600 m × 415 m × 100 m—
8 Sistema Ox Bel Ha Quintana Roo, Mexico270+ km———————Underwater cave system—————Three Paths of Water (Maya)
9 Optymistychna Cave Korolivka, Ukraine265+ km—1966—————Gypsum maze cave——————
10 Shuanghedong Cave Network Guizhou, China200+ km—————Still being explored—Multi-level cave system——————

How we ranked this

Caves are ranked by their total volume in cubic metres as determined by laser-mapping (LiDAR) surveys, speleological expeditions, and published research in caving journals. Where a cave system consists of multiple interconnected chambers, the total volume of the entire system is used. Only caves whose volume has been scientifically measured and published are included. Data is drawn from the National Speleological Society, National Geographic Society expeditions, and authoritative caving registries including caverbob.org.

FAQ

How is the volume of a cave measured?

Modern cave volume measurements are made using 3D laser scanning (LiDAR) technology, which creates detailed point-cloud models of cave chambers. Earlier measurements used photogrammetry or manual surveying with tape and compass. The National Geographic Society's laser-mapping expedition to Miao Room Cave in China is a notable example of high-precision cave volume measurement.

What is the difference between the longest cave and the largest cave?

The longest cave is measured by total passageway length. Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the longest known cave system at over 676 km. The largest cave is measured by total volume. Son Doong Cave in Vietnam is the largest by volume at 38.5 million cubic metres. A cave can be very long without being very large, and vice versa.

Are there larger caves still undiscovered?

Almost certainly. New cave systems are discovered every year, particularly in the karst regions of China, Vietnam, Mexico, and Brazil. The Miao Room Cave, one of the largest chambers in the world, was only accurately measured in 2013. Many cave systems in remote areas of Southeast Asia and South America have not yet been fully explored, and it is likely that larger caves remain undiscovered.

Sources