Rare 'cave clouds' found in China

A rare cave cloud structure in Guangxi.

According to a report by the Karst Institute of Geology under the China Geological Survey on July 2, the "cave cloud" covers an area of ​​300 square meters and is divided into seven pools, each shaped like a pumpkin or nest. bread. Xiniuyan Cave itself is 2,754 m long with gentle terrain.

"This is the second cave cloud discovered in China, after Jingua Cave in Danzhai County, Guizhou Province," said Zhang Yuanhai, a senior engineer at Karst Institute of Geology. "The formation conditions of the cave clouds are very harsh. The rock around the cave is mainly dolomite, and the karst caves formed by dolomite are uncommon."

Karst is a characteristic weathering phenomenon of limestone mountains eroded by water. Wuxuan County is a typical karst terrain distribution area in central Guangxi, which is rich in landscape resources such as karst caves, mountain peak forests, wetlands, rivers and lakes.

The cave cloud in Xiniuyan Cave consists of 7 pools shaped like pumpkins or loaves of bread.

Located about 20km from the district center, Xiniuyan cave was discovered in the 1990s, but this is the first time a cloud of caves has been found there.

The expedition team including experts from China and France conducted a survey of the topography and karst landscape of the cave, and checked the level of safety inside. Their studies provided a strong scientific reference point for future expansion, use and restoration of the cave.