Explore the world's highest caves – from Iran's epic pit caves to Brazil's towering cavern entrances.
It's humbling to think about how big some of the world's largest caves actually are.
Across the globe, there are caves so big that they have their own ecosystems, complete with waterfalls, jungles and rivers. In some, the caverns are so vast you can fly an aeroplane through them. Wow!
Many of these glorious natural wonders are accessible only to professionals – or unsafe for exploration, full stop – thanks to their complexity and difficulty.
Others are even harder to manage. Because of their location high above sea level, reaching them is like climbing a mountain before the cave exploration even starts.
Ever wondered which is the highest cave in the world? Well, before we answer that question, we need to decide what "highest" actually means.
What do we mean by "highest"?
It might seem like a simple question – but the answer is more complicated than you might think.
Take the world's deepest caves. These can be measured by comparing the highest accessible point to the lowest. This means they rank amongst the tallest caves but aren't necessarily the highest.
In fact, most of the time, they're not. With a depth of 2,224 metres (more than 7,200 feet), the Krubera-Voronja Cave in Abkhazia, Georgia, is the deepest cave on earth. It's also one of just two caves known to be deeper than 2,000 metres. But is it the highest cave by altitude? Nope!
The same goes for the longest or widest caves. The longest cave in the world is Mammoth Cave in the United States, which stretches for an incredible 426 miles. If a human walked non-stop (no breaks, no naps and definitely no dawdling) it would take five days to walk it. Hefty.
It gets even more complex when we think about the tallest caves. Some indexes rank caves based on the height of the cave mouth. If we used this as our definition, the Gruta Casa de Pedra (House of Stone Cave) in Brazil would top our list.
So, let's settle it. For the purposes of this article, we'll look at elevation above sea level – the same as if we were ranking the highest mountain peaks.
As the tallest mountain in the world, Mount Everest stands at 8,849 metres (29,032 feet) above sea level. How do the world's caves compare?
Highest by altitude: Paraw Cave (Iran)
929 metres (3,050 feet) above sea level
This is definitely one for the brave and the experienced.
Paraw Cave, also known as "Ghar Parau", is the highest pit cave in the world. Its entrance lies two kilometres outside of Kermanshah, up Mount Paraw.
The cave's remote location and high altitude make it a significant challenge for explorers. However, its stunning natural beauty has attracted adventurers from all around the world.
First discovered in 1971 and a heritage site since 2009, the cave has been instrumental in fostering a worldwide passion for caving and exploration.
Its geological foundations are complex. The cave is composed of 26 shafts, the deepest of which extends 42 metres straight down. Add in rough and porous walls, and it's easy to see why conquering it is a daunting feat.
Paraw isn't the only pit cave in Iran. Ghar-e-Ghala was discovered in 2014, just six kilometres north of Paraw Cave.
Second highest by altitude: Ghar-e-Ghala (Iran)
851 metres (2,794 feet) above sea level
Oh, look – it's Ghar-e-Ghala again. Is Paraw Cave's neighbour really the second-highest cave in the world?
Possibly.
See, it's actually quite tricky to determine the highest caves by altitude. That's because most of the world's record-breaking caves are measured in traversable depth below ground or sheer volume.
That said, Ghar-e-Ghala seems promising for the second-highest cave, given its proximity to Paraw. With a depth of 562 metres (roughly twice the height of the Eiffel Tower), it's recognised as the second-deepest shaft in the world.
So deep, in fact, that the first 60 metres are covered in snow and ice. It took two years to fully explore this formidable, banana-shaped cave despite the seemingly easy route down.
As beautiful and impressive as these caves are, neither is recommended for inexperienced cavers – and certainly not for your average curious family.
So, that's the highest by altitude. What else can we measure to deem a cave the highest in the world?
Highest cave mouth
For the cave with the highest entrance, we must go to Brazil to find the Gruta Casa de Pedra (House of Stone Cave).
Its actual mouth height is in dispute. Records from the 1960s put it at around 212 metres (705 feet). However, an in-progress technical survey argues that it stands at 175 metres (574 feet).
This is all academic. Whichever way you slice it, Brazil definitely has the tallest cave mouth entrance in the world. Sticking with the Eiffel Tower comparison, the opening of this cave is about half the size of it. That means there's plenty of light to see everything when you're exploring.
The cave itself can be found within Brazil's Parque Estadual do Alto Ribeira. Although most aren't suitable for general visitors, this national park and World Heritage Site boasts one of the most significant cave concentrations in the world. Experts reckon there are more than 350 natural caves within its boundaries.
Gruta Casa de Pedra, however, is explorable – and child-friendly, no less. A tour takes between one and two hours.
Highest (or deepest) caves in the United Kingdom
To see some of the world's record-breaking caves, UK citizens have to jump on a plane. However, there are plenty of stunning natural caves at home, too.
Near Castleton in Derbyshire's Peak District, Titan Cave is the UK's deepest cave shaft. It measures in at 141.5 metres (464 feet).
It's only open to professional cavers though – and beginners should always rely on experts to guide them.
Looking for something a little easier (but no less memorable)? The UK has plenty of stunning caves that you can explore in a couple of hours and are safe for kids.
As one of the best-preserved UK caves, Stump Cross Caverns promises a magical and educational day out. If you're in the Yorkshire Dales, why not pay us a visit?
Whatever your age, whatever the weather – Stump Cross Caverns is always an adventure. It's easy to book your ticketsonline.
