The cave was previously covered by snow. Image Credit: YouTube / Canadian Geographic / Catherine Hickson
A previously unexplored cave in British Columbia has been described as having 'national significance'.
Discovered in a remote valley in Wells Gray Provincial Park, the enormous cave had never been seen before now because until relatively recently it had been permanently covered in a thick layer of snow.
"When I first saw the photos my initial reaction is this is very significant, this is a very important discovery," said geologist Catherine Hickson whose team surveyed the cave in September.
"It is huge. It is enormous. When you first see it, you just gasp because it's just this huge hole."
The cave measures approximately 100 by 60 meters and extends underground for at least 100 meters with the first 80 meters or so being a sheer vertical drop down in to the darkness.
Water thunders down in to the entrance and is thought to emerge as a stream around 2.1km away.
The shape and size of the cave has earned it the Star Wars-themed nickname 'Sarlacc Pit'.
There is a chance that it could even be the largest cave in Canada.
You could always use a ladder. Oh wait... maybe not. But even if you did make it down, the force and volume of the water would drag you right into the abyss and we'd never see you again. River caves are not the easiest (or safest) type of cave to poke around in. Exploring it will be a technical nightmare.
They managed to get 80 metres down, but the volume of water prevented them from going any further. They'll figure something out, I'm sure, but my guess is there won't be much to see apart from a great deal of water. Just the same, I'm curious to see what they find.
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