【17返馬】20170716。姆魯 Mulu (8) 清水洞 Clearwater Cave

清水洞長222公里（2017年的勘察數據），為世界第八長、內容積最大的岩洞體系。這次觀光的清水洞為此岩洞體系西南方的主洞，此處為清水洞體系最早被發現的洞口，洞深約15哩，為地下河清水河的出口地帶。在探險考察工程進行了約40年後，體系的長度已達222公里。在探險隊從風洞找到通往清水洞的通道後，風洞也被列入清水洞體系。我們參觀的主洞有完善的步道規劃，入洞後先去參觀其側邊少女洞尾端的深坑，再去主洞繞一圈，欣賞地下河清水河的河道及石灰岩洞景色，為此程精彩絕色的壓軸戲。
The Clearwater Cave System (Malay: Gua Air Jernih) in Gunung Mulu National Park is believed to be the largest interconnected cave system in the world by volume and the 8th longest cave in the world at 222 km (2017). The system lies mainly under the western margins of Gunung Api between the Melinau Gorge and Cave of the Winds. The first exploration by speleologists was during the 1977/78 Royal Geographical Society Mulu Sarawak Expedition when 15 miles of the cave passage were surveyed. Many expeditions by the Mulu Caves Project have increased the explored length and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.” — from wikipedia. Clearwater Cave is located at the southwest of the Clearwater Cave System, and it is the downstream of Clearwater, one of the biggest known underground rivers (more detail here: Clearwater Cave by Mulu Caves Project). We have visited the Lady Cave and the Big Pit, then the Clearwater passage and the cave views, a great ending of our Mulu’s showcaves tour.

姆魯國家公園地圖。
Map of Mulu National Park. Source: www.mulucaves.org/wordpress/surveying/new-mulu-map

去清水洞也可以從風洞走棧道過去。
Walkpath from Wind Cave to Clearwater Cave.

但我們是坐長舟過去的。
But, we went there by long boat.

這廁所有翻新。
New toilets.

竹節蟲。

先喝點飲料再繼續行程。
Have a drink first.

清水洞外的休息區。

同樣從左上入洞，先去少女洞看深坑，在回到洞口往另一邊的洞穴繞一圈。原子筆劃上的藍色路線是新的棧道。
We enter the cave from left top, first visit Lady Cave and see the Big Pit. Then turn back to entrance and go to main cave, pass the river and continue with the new walking path shown in blue dashed line.

想一睹清水洞的風采，先爬樓梯吧！
Take about 200 stairs up first to the entrance.

樓梯很陡。Steep stairs.

來到洞口，圖中右側為進少女洞的步道，下側往左為進主洞的樓梯。
At the entrance, right side is the path entering Lady Cave, bottom is the way entering main cave.

鐘乳石上的單葉植物。

地上的單葉植物，這兩兄弟只在姆魯有喲！

入洞了。
Enter the cave.

瞧瞧主洞內新的步道。

往少女洞。
To Lady Cave.

美女在這。
Here’s the lady.

來去前方的平台看看。
Have a look at the platform.

少女洞內的深坑，Ah Ting在這當了二十幾年的導遊，只遇過兩次十來公分的漲水。
The Big Pit in Lady Cave. Ah Ting has only seen this pit with water of about 10-20cm for two times in last 20 years.

我們站的平台對面有一洞口，探險隊曾經進去過，其洞內與少女洞不相上下。
Opposite of the platform, there’s a cave’s entrance. This cave has similar volume as Lady Cave.

往回走。
Turning back to cave entrance.

又得往上爬一段樓梯。
Go upstairs again.

來去參觀主洞。
Visiting main section of Clearwater Cave.

地面上的單葉植物。

先沿著樓梯往下走到河邊。
Walking downstairs to the river area.

遊主洞的步道就是先往下到河邊，再往上繞一圈，一覽主洞上上下下的風采。
So, we have to walk down to river, and go up again by new path, to enjoy the beauty of this cave from different points and heights.

植物岩溶：因植物的作用而产生的岩溶作用过程或形态的统称。植物放出或吸收CO，加速水对碳酸盐矿物的溶蚀或水中碳酸盐的沉积；植物分泌的有机酸，以及植物本身的钻孔作用，都能导致植物岩溶的产生。常见的植物岩溶形态有溶盘、洞口石刺、洞口或洞外钟乳石。常表现向光性，如地表河中的钙华坝，以及一些显微形态等。–地球科學大辭典
Phytokarst features: It formed near caves entrance where rock surfaces facing light within 12 hours. It caused by cynobacteria/ green algae. They produce carbon dioxide as they mixed with water, those water will becoming acidic. A weak acidic water will start dissolving the limestone slowly. The gap between needles will become deeper and deeper. Those process are happen over many years. (Thanks TA for extra info)

真的是奇妙的自然界，這些“石針”都是“向陽”。
These needles are all facing to the same direction where the sunlight come.

來到河邊。
River passing the cave and flows into Melinau River.

清水洞就因這清水得名。
Clearwater Cave is named to this undergound river Clearwater.

轉身拍拍過河的橋。
Turn back to have a picture of the bridge.

清水洞的天窗。
This cave has collapsed ceiling as well.

河水就從黑暗的前方湧來。

新的棧道。
New path in sight.

來去探探清水河的水溫。
Have a closed touch with Clearwater.

開始走新的棧道往上爬。
Going upstairs again using new path.

崩塌的洞頂。
Collapsed top.

往上看。
Looking upward.

往下看。
Looking downward.

這部分有陽光照耀，大部分岩石表面都有植物岩溶的現象。
This part is explored to sunlight and most of the surface have Phytokarst features.

這像水晶那樣透明的石針。
These needles look like crystal.

月奶石。
Moonmilk.

再往下朝洞口前進。
Go downstairs heading entrance.

這一段的石柱都很壯觀。

月奶石。
Moonmilk.

剛剛進主洞往下走的步道。
The old path from entrance to river.

滴水穿石。

往下看看清水河河道的景色。
View of Clearwater passage from top.

換個角度看看。
From another corner.

一覽新舊步道。
Old and new paths in view.

清水洞洞口。
Cave’s entrance.

石灰岩生態景觀。
A part of limestone cave’s eco-system.

有陽光有水，就有綠色植物。其實，石灰岩洞內的黑暗世界才是生物學家的天堂。

再用心欣賞這漂亮的洞口，期待下一次見面。