Dragon's Breath Cave

Beneath the shifting sands of Namibia’s Kalahari Desert lies the world’s largest subglacial lake. The Dragon’s Breath Cave begins in cavern ending in a small choke. Then after a long descent you reach an underground lake so deep that divers haven’t reached the bottom yet. The lake is protected from the elements and has extremely clear water and no waves. There is no sunlight and therefore, no photosynthesis. The underground location keeps the temperature stable. The cave is called “Dragon’s Breath” because the humid air rising from the opening reminded explorers of a dragon breathing. 

The lightless cave is home to white shrimp, worm like creatures, and the Golden Cave Catfish, Clarias cavernicola. The Golden Cave Catfish is a type of air breathing catfish and feeds off of detritus (decomposing organic matter) and invertebrates.  The lack of light gives them a pale golden color. Interestingly, these fish also have a layer of skin over their eyes, making them effectively blind (in a lightless cave, vision doesn’t do you much good). There are thought to be only 200 – 400 of these fish in existence, all living in the Dragon’s Breath Cave. These fish are under extreme threat because fluctuating water levels can seriously diminish their habitat.

-Laura Spielman

https://www.gondwana-collection.com/blog/did-you-know-about-the-golden-cave-catfish/

http://www.lakescientist.com/dragons-breath-cave-holds-worlds-largest-underground-lake/

https://www.gondwana-collection.com/blog/why-the-dragons-breath-cave-in-namibia-is-so-special/