1972day.year
In Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park, a Cave Research Foundation exploration and mapping team discovers a link between the Mammoth and Flint Ridge cave systems, making it the longest known cave passageway in the world.
In 1972, explorers discovered a passage linking Mammoth Cave and Flint Ridge in Kentucky, creating the longest known cave system in the world.
On September 9, 1972, a team from the Cave Research Foundation charted a connection between Mammoth Cave and Flint Ridge systems in Kentucky.
This breakthrough extended the mapped cave network to over 360 miles, establishing it as the longest known cave passageway globally.
Explorers navigated narrow tunnels, hidden shafts, and underground rivers to confirm the linkage.
The discovery advanced scientific understanding of karst landscapes and cave geology.
It spurred ongoing exploration, conservation efforts, and public interest in the subterranean wonders of Mammoth Cave National Park.
1972
Kentucky
Mammoth Cave National Park