Dragon's Breath Cave
A narrow crack in the Namibian desert breathes out warm, damp air. Below it lies the largest underground lake of its kind in the world.
What was reported
In 1986, cavers in northern Namibia noticed humid air rising from a crack in the ground. They followed it down and found a hidden lake, about 100 metres below the surface, covering almost 2 hectares, with water so clear that their lights could shine deep into it.
They named it Dragon's Breath Cave, after the moist air flowing out of the entrance. It's believed to be the world's largest underground lake that isn't beneath a glacier.
Explanations offered
The lake fills a huge chamber dissolved in dolomite rock and is fed by groundwater. Its depth hasn't been fully measured. A rare blind cave catfish lives in water in the region. Access is limited to protect it.
- When
- Discovered in 1986
- Where
- Near Grootfontein, Otjozondjupa, Namibia
- Witnesses
- Cave explorers
- Status
- A real place
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.
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