Wells Gray Park Cave discovery

A karst cave of exceptional scale was discovered in 2018 in Wells Gray Provincial Park in British Columbia's Cariboo Mountains after a helicopter survey spotted its snow-filled entrance. Long concealed by year-round snow, the site may only have become visible in recent decades as glacial retreat increased summer melting. Later that year, a team led by Catherine Hickson and John Pollack made a partial descent and estimated the cave to be at least 2 kilometres long. Its most striking feature is a vast entrance with a river plunging in as a waterfall. Because of hazardous conditions, technical challenges, and preservation concerns, its location was kept secret and the surrounding area was closed.

British Columbia · Canada