Some Cave Statistics

There do not seem to be any maintained lists of South American cave statistics, so we compiled the following lists to place our discoveries within context.  The information herein is the best we could come up with, and we strongly encourage knowledgeable cavers to contact us with corrections or additions.  This page was last updated in March 2007. 

South America's Deepest Caves

1.  Abismo Guy Collet (Brazil) -671m (explored in 2007; deepest quartzite cave in the world)

2.  Sima Pumacocha (Peru)  -638m

3.  Gruta do Centenario (Brazil) - 484m

4.  Millpu de Kaukiran (Peru) -407m   (also known as Sima de Millpu, or Sima de Racas Marca)

5.  Gruta da Bocaina (Brazil) -404m

6.  Sima Aonda (Venezuela) -383m

7.  Perte du Futur (Chile) -376m

8.  Sima Auyan-tepui Noroeste (Venezuela) -370m

9.  Tragadero San Andres (Peru) -334m

South America's Deepest Shafts

1.  Sima Aonda (Venezuela) 320m   (formed in quartzite, this is the deepest non-limestone shaft in the world)

2.  SP1 in Sima Pumacocha (Peru) 282m   (deepest shaft in the Andes)

3.  Lago Azul (Brazil)  279m  (274m underwater)

4.  Sima Mayor de Sarisarinama (Venezuela)  275m  

5.  Dos Ojos (Peru)  258m

The World's Highest Caves

1.  unnamed  (Pakistan; unsurveyed)   6765m above sea level

2.  Qaqa Mach'ay (Peru; -125m)   4930m asl

3.  Rangkul'skaja (Syjkyrduu)  (Pamir, Tajikistan; -268m)   4600m asl

4.  Cueva Puyo (Peru; -48m)  4585m asl

5.  Tragadero Puyo / Pozo Waqtanpi (Peru, -107m)  4570m asl

        NOTES:  

• The world's highest cave was reported by climbers on Rakiot Peak (near Nanga Parbat) in 1963; it was estimated at 75m long but has not been surveyed or visited by cavers.  

• The list of high-altitude caves does not include glacier caves (caves formed within ice); the Ngozumpa Glacier Caves Research Project surveyed several glacier caves between 4900 and 5300m above sea level in the Himalayas in 2005.

• We have no information on Cueva de Saco, a Peruvian cave supposedly at 4800m asl; contact us if you have any information on this (or any other cave over 4500m elevation).   

Click here to view more world cave statistics.

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