Do any sperlunkers know if at least in western countries if we keep maps of cave systems. I dont want to go digging around Thai websites if they are unlikely to even exist. I just want to know if there is a possibility that the kids were being kidnapped or smuggled over the border.
"The cave's main entrance chamber is 80 metres (260 ft) long.[1] It winds through 10.3 kilometres (6.4 mi) of limestone strata and has many deep recesses, narrow tunnels, boulder chokes, collapses, and sumps. Stalactites and stalagmites are found throughout the cave.[1] There is a permanent stream inside the cave, which enters from the west, flows with the passage for several metres, and exits via the eastern wall.[2] A team of French cavers made the first survey of Tham Luang's main cave in 1986 and 1987. Further surveys were done in 2014 and 2015 by the British cavers VERN UNSWORTH, Martin Ellis, Phil Collett, and Rob Harper." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tham_Luang_Nang_Non
"British national Vern Unsworth who lives in Chiang Rai is being hailed as the man who kick started the successful cave rescue that saw the lives of 12 boys and their coach saved.
Vern was the first to react to the impending disaster as he contacted his buddies in England from the DCRO cave rescue team.
He was on hand to brief Robert Harper, Rick Stanton and John Volanthen as soon as they arrived in the north of Thailand.
Vern knew the cave system well having done surveys of the passageways.
"A visitor centre outside the main entrance has a detailed map of the cave.[2] There is a car park nearby. The first 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) of the cave is open to the public for guided tours between November and June.[1] The cave floods during rainy season and is closed to visitors"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tham_Luang_Nang_Non
Thanksman. I found this cave map its incomplete, but it says the most northern end of the cave heads West, and this image it show Thailand (the scale is great) but if the cave only goes west at the northern point then I don't think its far enough to get over the border to Laos. Ah well, but thanks for the help all the same.
Great find. I don't think we can rule out that it goes to the border. I would think locals know these caves far better than a British nationalt. This was a major area for drug trafficking for many generations. I find it interesting that the cave was mapped only a few years ago, 2016, and by a non-Tai who was the Brit hero of the cave rescue. Too many oddities about this incident.
Oh shit yeah The Golden Triangle, The area between Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. I don't know why that didn't hit me before good catch. I'm gonna see if I can get lucky and find some Thai social media site or even news stories on the Golden triangle that might indicate drug traffickers are using caves to cross the borders.
British national Vern Unsworth who lives in Chiang Rai:
"If you are not scared of the dark and enjoy a walk into the unknown, then try Chiang Rai’s Wat Tham Pla (‘Fish Cave Temple’, but also called ‘Monkey Temple’). Burrowed into a huge rock face about 13km south of Mae Sai, this cave sits on a steep hill behind the main temple building. Climb up some 200 stone steps and you will be struck by the sight of towering limestone walls festooned in leafy green closing in on both sides. Inside, the cave is pitch black, with two large chambers housing a Burmese-style bejeweled Bhudda image. Exit the other end, and a series of steps await you as well as an all-encompassing view of verdant jungle bordering Thailand, Burma and Laos – The Golden Triangle. "
"1950's
U.S. efforts to contain the spread of Communism in Asia involves forging alliances with tribes and warlords inhabiting the areas of the Golden Triangle, (an expanse covering Laos, Thailand and Burma), thus providing accessibility and protection along the southeast border of China. In order to maintain their relationship with the warlords while continuing to fund the struggle against communism, the U.S. and France supply the drug warlords and their armies with ammunition, arms and air transport for the production and sale of opium. The result: an explosion in the availability and illegal flow of heroin into the United States and into the hands of drug dealers and addicts"
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/heroin/etc/history.html
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Kekmet-Peperoni ago
Do any sperlunkers know if at least in western countries if we keep maps of cave systems. I dont want to go digging around Thai websites if they are unlikely to even exist. I just want to know if there is a possibility that the kids were being kidnapped or smuggled over the border.
septimasexta ago
"The cave's main entrance chamber is 80 metres (260 ft) long.[1] It winds through 10.3 kilometres (6.4 mi) of limestone strata and has many deep recesses, narrow tunnels, boulder chokes, collapses, and sumps. Stalactites and stalagmites are found throughout the cave.[1] There is a permanent stream inside the cave, which enters from the west, flows with the passage for several metres, and exits via the eastern wall.[2] A team of French cavers made the first survey of Tham Luang's main cave in 1986 and 1987. Further surveys were done in 2014 and 2015 by the British cavers VERN UNSWORTH, Martin Ellis, Phil Collett, and Rob Harper." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tham_Luang_Nang_Non
"British national Vern Unsworth who lives in Chiang Rai is being hailed as the man who kick started the successful cave rescue that saw the lives of 12 boys and their coach saved.
Vern was the first to react to the impending disaster as he contacted his buddies in England from the DCRO cave rescue team.
He was on hand to brief Robert Harper, Rick Stanton and John Volanthen as soon as they arrived in the north of Thailand.
Vern knew the cave system well having done surveys of the passageways.
Yesterday Thai Rath praised him and published a note showing that he started the operation that eventually led to Mr Stanton and Mr Volanthen being the first to reach the boys." https://news.thaivisa.com/article/23199/unsung-hero-brit-vern-unsworth-started-the-cave-rescue
"A visitor centre outside the main entrance has a detailed map of the cave.[2] There is a car park nearby. The first 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) of the cave is open to the public for guided tours between November and June.[1] The cave floods during rainy season and is closed to visitors" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tham_Luang_Nang_Non
Kekmet-Peperoni ago
Thanksman. I found this cave map its incomplete, but it says the most northern end of the cave heads West, and this image it show Thailand (the scale is great) but if the cave only goes west at the northern point then I don't think its far enough to get over the border to Laos. Ah well, but thanks for the help all the same.
septimasexta ago
Great find. I don't think we can rule out that it goes to the border. I would think locals know these caves far better than a British nationalt. This was a major area for drug trafficking for many generations. I find it interesting that the cave was mapped only a few years ago, 2016, and by a non-Tai who was the Brit hero of the cave rescue. Too many oddities about this incident.
Kekmet-Peperoni ago
Oh shit yeah The Golden Triangle, The area between Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. I don't know why that didn't hit me before good catch. I'm gonna see if I can get lucky and find some Thai social media site or even news stories on the Golden triangle that might indicate drug traffickers are using caves to cross the borders.
septimasexta ago
British national Vern Unsworth who lives in Chiang Rai:
"If you are not scared of the dark and enjoy a walk into the unknown, then try Chiang Rai’s Wat Tham Pla (‘Fish Cave Temple’, but also called ‘Monkey Temple’). Burrowed into a huge rock face about 13km south of Mae Sai, this cave sits on a steep hill behind the main temple building. Climb up some 200 stone steps and you will be struck by the sight of towering limestone walls festooned in leafy green closing in on both sides. Inside, the cave is pitch black, with two large chambers housing a Burmese-style bejeweled Bhudda image. Exit the other end, and a series of steps await you as well as an all-encompassing view of verdant jungle bordering Thailand, Burma and Laos – The Golden Triangle. "
Read more at: http://www.thailand-guide.com/chiangrai/activities.htm?cid=ch:OTH:001
The Golden Triangle History:
"1950's U.S. efforts to contain the spread of Communism in Asia involves forging alliances with tribes and warlords inhabiting the areas of the Golden Triangle, (an expanse covering Laos, Thailand and Burma), thus providing accessibility and protection along the southeast border of China. In order to maintain their relationship with the warlords while continuing to fund the struggle against communism, the U.S. and France supply the drug warlords and their armies with ammunition, arms and air transport for the production and sale of opium. The result: an explosion in the availability and illegal flow of heroin into the United States and into the hands of drug dealers and addicts" https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/heroin/etc/history.html