Cave Explorers Recount Harrowing Race Against Time in Flooded Cavern
A few months back the world was transfixed by the story of a young soccer team in Thailand that became stranded in a cave when rising water closed off their only means of escape. If you thought that was a harrowing experience however, then wait until you read an article that was posted to the National Geographic website yesterday. It shares the details of a team of cave explorers who were in a true race against time as flood waters poured into the subterranean chambers that they were mapping. The actual event took place in a place called Veryovkina, which holds the distinction of being the deepest cave system that we know of so far. Located in the Eastern European country of Georgia, the cave has been explored and mapped for more than 50 years. So far, we know that it is at least 2212 meters (7257 ft) deep, with more passages and chambers to be explored yet. Back in September, a team of spelunkers dropped into Veryovkina to continue the slow process of discovering its hidden dep...