{{Short description|Cave system in Malaysia}} {{Infobox cave | name = Clearwater Cave System | map = Malaysia | other_name = | photo = Interior of Clearwater Cave 2.jpg | photo_width = | photo_alt = | photo_caption = Interior of the Clearwater Cave | map_width = | map_alt = | map_caption = | location = Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak<ref name="Mulu Caves Project">{{cite web |title=Clearwater Cave |url=https://mulucaves.org.uk/|publisher=Mulu Caves Project |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170601050733/http://www.mulucaves.org/wordpress/the-caves-2/caves-of-gunung-api/clearwater-cave |archive-date=1 June 2017}}</ref> | land_registry_number = | grid_ref = | coords = {{Coord|04|03|54|N|114|49|53|E|display=inline,title}} | depth = | length = {{cvt|265.882|km}}<ref name="Mulu Caves Project"/> | height_variation = {{cvt|553.41|m}}<ref name="Mulu Caves Project"/> | elevation = | discovery = {{List collapsed|title=''See list''|1=Clearwater Cave (1978)|2=Lady's Cave (connected in 1978)|3=Cleartop Cave (connected in 1978)|4=Wind Cave (connected in 1988)|5=Drunken Forest (connected in 1990)|6=Blackrock Cave (connected in 1991)|7=Leopard Cave (connected in 1991)|8=Whiterock Cave (connected in 2005)}}<ref>{{cite web |title=The Clearwater Cave System |url=http://www.mulucaves.org/wordpress/the-caves-2/the-major-cave-systems/the-clearwater-cave-system |publisher=Mulu Caves Project |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324004822/http://www.mulucaves.org/wordpress/the-caves-2/the-major-cave-systems/the-clearwater-cave-system |archive-date=24 March 2018}}</ref> | geology = | entrance_count = | entrance_list = | difficulty = Advanced - connection to Wind Cave<ref name="Mulu National Park2">{{cite web |title=Clearwater connection |url=http://mulupark.com/tours-activities/adventure-caving/clearwater-connection/ |publisher=Mulu National Park |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315103609/http://mulupark.com/tours-activities/adventure-caving/clearwater-connection/ |archive-date=15 March 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> <br/> Intermediate - access to underground river<ref name="Mulu National Park1">{{cite web |title=Clearwater revival |url=http://mulupark.com/tours-activities/adventure-caving/clearwater-revival/ |publisher=Mulu National Park |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315110322/http://mulupark.com/tours-activities/adventure-caving/clearwater-revival/ |archive-date=15 March 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | hazards = | access = Public (Clearwater cave),<ref>{{cite web |title=Clearwater Cave and Wind Cave |url=http://www.mulunationalpark.com/show-caves-clearwater-wind.php |publisher=Mulu National Park |access-date=29 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920122622/http://www.mulunationalpark.com/show-caves-clearwater-wind.php |archive-date=20 September 2018}}</ref> <br/> Restricted (underground rivers and connections)<ref name="Mulu National Park1"/><ref name="Mulu National Park2"/> | show_cave = 1985<ref name="World Heritage Datasheet">{{cite web |last1=Yi Chuan |first1=Shi |title=Gunung Mulu National Park |url=https://yichuans.github.io/datasheet/output/site/gunung-mulu-national-park/ |publisher=World Heritage Datasheet |access-date=27 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027154419/https://yichuans.github.io/datasheet/output/site/gunung-mulu-national-park/ |archive-date=27 October 2018 |date=2010}}</ref> | show_cave_length = | lighting = | visitors = | features = Top 10 longest cave passage in the world<ref name="Mulu Caves Project"/> | survey = | survey_format = | website = {{URL|http://www.mulunationalpark.com/show-caves-clearwater-wind.php|Official website}}<br/>{{URL|https://mulucaves.org.uk/|Mulu Caves Project website}} }}
The '''Clearwater Cave System''' ({{langx|ms|Gua Air Jernih}}) in Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak, Malaysia is believed to be one of the world's largest interconnected cave systems by volume and it is the 7th longest at {{cvt|265.882|km|mi}} (Nov 2025).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Eavis |first1=Rob |title=What a Rollercoaster |journal=Descent |date=April–May 2016 |issue=249 |pages=24–29}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Brown |first1=Mark |title=Mulu Successes Continue |journal=Descent |date=June–July 2017 |issue=256 |pages=36}}</ref><ref name="NSS_LONG">{{cite web |author=Bob Gulden |title=Worlds longest caves |publisher=National Speleological Society (NSS) |work=Geo2 Committee on Long and Deep Caves |url=http://www.caverbob.com/wlong.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060515145704/http://www.caverbob.com/wlong.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=May 15, 2006 |date=January 1, 2020 |access-date=15 March 2020}}</ref> 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 {{cvt|24|km}} of the cave passage were surveyed. Many expeditions have increased the explored length and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
The cave's water is clear, completely see-through. It originates from mountain springs and can be drunk without filters. Swimming in the water is authorized when fluvial discharges are low. The cave's water flows in to the Melinau River.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-08 |title=Berpetualang ke Clearwater Cave di Hutan Mulu Sarawak, Susuri Sungai hingga Naik 200 Anak Tangga |url=https://www.tempo.co/hiburan/berpetualang-ke-clearwater-cave-di-hutan-mulu-sarawak-susuri-sungai-hingga-naik-200-anak-tangga-42215 |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Tempo |language=id}}</ref>
There has been expeditions to find a connection between this cave and the Racer Cave (Racer-Easter system) because such a connection would make the whole subterranean complex one of the largest in the planet.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-02 |title=Step inside this massive cave labyrinth hidden under Borneo |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/exploring-a-massive-cave-labyrinth-hidden-under-borneo |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Magazine |language=en}}</ref>
==See also== * List of longest caves
==References== {{Reflist}}{{Geography of Sarawak}}
Category:Caves of Sarawak Category:Show caves in Malaysia
{{Sarawak-geo-stub}}