Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 21, 2026

Leviathan Cave

Leviathan Cave, also known as the Grotte de Leviathan, is a lava tube in eastern Kenya first discovered in 1975. Although it has been segmented by the movement of tectonic plates, the overall length of the lava tube spans a distance of 11.5 km (7.1 mi). It is the longest and deepest known lava tube in Africa.

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Leviathan Cave, also known as the Grotte de Leviathan,1 is a lava tube in eastern Kenya first discovered in 1975.2 Although it has been segmented by the movement of tectonic plates, the overall length of the lava tube spans a distance of 11.5 km (7.1 mi).3 It is the longest and deepest known lava tube in Africa.2

Leviathan Cave is located in the Chyulu Hills National Park at the edge of the Nyiri Desert, which is found northwest of Tsavo West National Park.34

In the 1980s, Leviathan Cave was the third-longest known lava tube in the world.5 However, modern surveys have found newer, longer tubes, and have located longer passages of known tubes. Leviathan Cave is still the longest tube in Africa, but is only the 11th-longest lava tube in the world.6

Description

Leviathan Cave is divided into two sections, the Upper Leviathan and the Lower Leviathan. The Upper Leviathan is 9,152 m (30,026 ft) long, with a depth of 408 m (1,339 ft).5 The Lower Leviathan is 2,071 m (6,795 ft) long, with a depth of 70 m (230 ft).5 These segments are considered separately when ranking the length of the Leviathan, per international standard.5

Like all lava tubes, Leviathan Cave was formed by hot lava flowing beneath a cooled crust.7

See also

See also

References

References

  1. "World Cave List". Sop.inria.fr. 15 August 1997. Archived from the original on 24 April 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
  2. Forti; Galli; Rossi (July 2004). "Minerogenesis of Volcanic Caves of Kenya". International Journal of Speleology. 32: 3–18. doi:10.5038/1827-806X.32.1.1. Archived from the original on 9 April 2017. Retrieved 7 Apr 2017.
  3. Scheffel, Richard L.; Wernet, Susan J., eds. (1980). Natural Wonders of the World. United States of America: Reader's Digest Association, Inc. p. 217. ISBN 0-89577-087-3.
  4. Tom Parkinson; Matt Phillips; Will Gourlay (2006). Kenya. Lonely Planet. pp. 140–. ISBN 978-1-74059-743-2. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  5. Crawford, R.L. (1983). "The World's Longest Lava Tube Caves" (PDF). National Speleological Society: Geo2 - Newsletter of the Section of Cave Geology and Geography. 10 (2) (Win 1982). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2017-04-08.
  6. Gulden, Bob (March 21, 2017). "World's Longest Lava Tubes". Caver Bob. Archived from the original on 2013-01-25. Retrieved 2017-04-07.
  7. Susan Rigby (1 October 1993). Caves. Troll Associates. ISBN 978-0-8167-2750-6. Retrieved 30 July 2012.