Tham Luang Nang Non

Tham Luang Nang Non is a prominent cave system located in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province, Thailand.

The cave, which extends for approximately 10.3 kilometers (6.4 miles), is the fourth largest in Thailand and features a complex layout of twisting paths, narrow passages, and expansive chambers.

The cave is shaped by the interplay of granite and limestone formations, with the west side of the mountain prominently showcasing where these geological elements converge.

Teak, Burma padauk, and bamboo trees line the streams flowing through the surrounding forest, creating a cool and shaded environment.

Tham Luang is known for its striking rock formations, including stalactites and stalagmites, and its distinctive water-formed features created by millennia of groundwater erosion.

During this period, rainwater from the Doi Nang Non mountain range floods the cave system, with water levels rising up to 5 meters in some areas.

Environmentalists caution against drastic changes to the cave, as even minor disturbances can lead to irreversible damage and the potential extinction of these specialized species, highlighting the need for careful conservation efforts in this fragile habitat.

Despite its natural beauty and ecological importance, the area remained relatively unknown to tourists until a significant event in 2018 brought it international attention.

[8][9] In 2018, twelve boys aged 11 to 16, all members of a junior association football team, and their 25-year-old male assistant coach were stranded in the cave for 18 days by a flood.

[18] Another diver and ex-Navy Seal, Beirut Pakbara, died the next year from a septic shock from an unspecified blood infection he contracted during the cave rescue.

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