<p>Deep caves primarily need two things: 1) Very thick or extensive tilted limestone beds so that there is enough bedrock to form a deep cave, and 2) A deep water table so that caves can form by dissolution of the limestone.</p>

<p>Although phreatic caves form beneath the water table, they seldom form to great depth because the water becomes saturated with calcium carbonate early in the groundwater flow system.</p>

<p>A deep water table is promoted by uplift or by incising of rivers into plateaus. There are few areas in the US with these conditions as noted in the other answer.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-04T21:27:06.933Z
However, there are quite deep caves in Mexico. Sótano de San Agustín is 1250 m deep
haresfur
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-02T00:17:11.467Z
2019-04-02T00:17:11.467Z
haresfur
<p>According to <a href="http://www.caverbob.com/wdeep.htm" rel="noreferrer">http://www.caverbob.com/wdeep.htm</a> and <a href="http://www.caverbob.com/usadeep.htm" rel="noreferrer">http://www.caverbob.com/usadeep.htm</a>, the only cave over 1000m deep in the US is a lava cave in Hawaii. In the continental US the deepest is 505m.</p>

<p>On the other hand in Europe there are two caves over 2000m deep.</p>

<p>The largest cave systems are in the US (<a href="https://www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm" rel="noreferrer">Mammoth Cave</a> in Kentucky. Why aren't they deeper?</p>

<p>It seems that the limestone layers are thinner and have been tilted less than in Europe. If this is the case, why?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-03T22:11:11.763Z
Hello, and welcome to Earth Science. You aren't clear; how deep  is the deepest cave in the continental US, and in Europe?
Daniel Griscom
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-03T22:18:10.587Z
@DanielGriscom Hi, I've updated the question.
jinawee
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-05T14:21:44.280Z
You might be better off asking what about Spain and Georgia makes them have really deep caves, since the US is no unique is lacking super deep caves.
John
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-12-05T14:26:16.977Z
Also large is not the same as deep the deepest cave in the  continental US is Lechuguilla Cave in Carlsbad, New Mexico. It is worth noting that  the listes for longest or largest caves do not overlap with the deepest, the processes that encourage long caves do not encourage deep caves and vice versa.
John
<geology><cavern>
Why are there no deep caves in the continental US?
jinawee
# Why are there no deep caves in the continental US?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-12-03)

According to <http://www.caverbob.com/wdeep.htm> and <http://www.caverbob.com/usadeep.htm>, the only cave over 1000m deep in the US is a lava cave in Hawaii. In the continental US the deepest is 505m.

On the other hand in Europe there are two caves over 2000m deep.

The largest cave systems are in the US ([Mammoth Cave](https://www.nps.gov/maca/index.htm) in Kentucky. Why aren't they deeper?

It seems that the limestone layers are thinner and have been tilted less than in Europe. If this is the case, why?

**Tags:** geology, cavern

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Hello, and welcome to Earth Science. You aren't clear; how deep  is the deepest cave in the continental US, and in Europe?  
> **username_0**: @username_1 Hi, I've updated the question.  
> **username_2**: You might be better off asking what about Spain and Georgia makes them have really deep caves, since the US is no unique is lacking super deep caves.  
> **username_2**: Also large is not the same as deep the deepest cave in the  continental US is Lechuguilla Cave in Carlsbad, New Mexico. It is worth noting that  the listes for longest or largest caves do not overlap with the deepest, the processes that encourage long caves do not encourage deep caves and vice versa.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-04-02. Score: 1

Deep caves primarily need two things: 1) Very thick or extensive tilted limestone beds so that there is enough bedrock to form a deep cave, and 2) A deep water table so that caves can form by dissolution of the limestone.

Although phreatic caves form beneath the water table, they seldom form to great depth because the water becomes saturated with calcium carbonate early in the groundwater flow system.

A deep water table is promoted by uplift or by incising of rivers into plateaus. There are few areas in the US with these conditions as noted in the other answer.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: However, there are quite deep caves in Mexico. Sótano de San Agustín is 1250 m deep  

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