Sima Pumacocha, Pit cave in Yauyos Province, Peru.
Sima Pumacocha is a limestone cave system in Yauyos Province connected by multiple vertical shafts forming a network of underground passages. The interconnected sections extend to a total depth of 638 meters beneath the Andes mountains and are accessed through three main entrances.
The cave system was first explored beginning in 2001 and held the record as South America's deepest explored cave for five years until another system surpassed it. This achievement marked an important milestone in regional cave exploration.
The name comes from the Quechua language, connecting to the indigenous people who lived in this mountain region near the village of Laraos. Visitors sense this link to local heritage as they explore the cave passages.
Access is gained through one of three separate entrances at the surface leading into the underground passages below. Visitors should be prepared for extreme depths and understand that exploring requires proper equipment and technical skills.
The cave features the Ammonite Shaft where marine fossils are embedded in the limestone walls, offering glimpses into the prehistoric marine history of the area. These paleontological finds reveal that this mountain region once lay beneath ancient seas.
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