Thursday, March 1, 2012

Laos 2012 Expedition News

Chomg Ong sinter basins
The Laos 2012 exploteam returned from a three week exploration and surveying expedition.

This years expedition was a re-visit of former areas driven by the short term non-accessibility of Sayabouli province. It was also the first time two independent expedition teams were on the way. 

Vieng Phouka revealed shorter river caves of several hundred meter length along the roads, the surprise came in Muang Ngoy with a 2 km river system which is still going. Vieng Xay had many caves along the road to the Vietnamese border, the surprise was a new found area just 25 km North of Sam Neua with disappearing rivers.

The 2012 expedition team:
Michael Laumanns (coordinator), Carsten Ebenau, Dimitry Bogushev, Irina Ermekova, Joerg Dreybrodt (coordinator), Helmut Steiner, David Eskes, Matt Oliphant, Nancy Pistole, Urs Etter, Manuel Borruat, Aline Daenzer, Alessio Romeo

This year also marks the 10th expedition in annual succession after having the first trip in December 2002. The results can be shown to the international caving community. Six provinces were visited and 92 km of cave passages mapped in Northern Laos .

All work is nicely published and available as 4 BHB books “ The unknown North of Laos Vol. I – IV”.
It is very encouraging to see that the outcome is of use and benefit for other parties like:

a.) German-Lao development project to establish the Chom Ong system for regional ecotourism. It is mentioned in all guide books and there are several links to the projects webpage 
b.) Vieng Xay memorial site for historical documentation within a national monument development
c.) MMAP archeological project from Penn university which used the books to start investigation on the described entrances for Neolithic age inhabitants 
d.) Universityof Tuebingen, another archeological project from Prof. Madeline Boehme

More information about this and all previous expeditions can be found on the dedicated webpage:

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Laos 2012 Expedition News

Chomg Ong sinter basins
The Laos 2012 exploteam returned from a three week exploration and surveying expedition.

This years expedition was a re-visit of former areas driven by the short term non-accessibility of Sayabouli province. It was also the first time two independent expedition teams were on the way. 

Vieng Phouka revealed shorter river caves of several hundred meter length along the roads, the surprise came in Muang Ngoy with a 2 km river system which is still going. Vieng Xay had many caves along the road to the Vietnamese border, the surprise was a new found area just 25 km North of Sam Neua with disappearing rivers.

The 2012 expedition team:
Michael Laumanns (coordinator), Carsten Ebenau, Dimitry Bogushev, Irina Ermekova, Joerg Dreybrodt (coordinator), Helmut Steiner, David Eskes, Matt Oliphant, Nancy Pistole, Urs Etter, Manuel Borruat, Aline Daenzer, Alessio Romeo

This year also marks the 10th expedition in annual succession after having the first trip in December 2002. The results can be shown to the international caving community. Six provinces were visited and 92 km of cave passages mapped in Northern Laos .

All work is nicely published and available as 4 BHB books “ The unknown North of Laos Vol. I – IV”.
It is very encouraging to see that the outcome is of use and benefit for other parties like:

a.) German-Lao development project to establish the Chom Ong system for regional ecotourism. It is mentioned in all guide books and there are several links to the projects webpage 
b.) Vieng Xay memorial site for historical documentation within a national monument development
c.) MMAP archeological project from Penn university which used the books to start investigation on the described entrances for Neolithic age inhabitants 
d.) Universityof Tuebingen, another archeological project from Prof. Madeline Boehme

More information about this and all previous expeditions can be found on the dedicated webpage:

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Location: Laos