Close on the heels of the recent discovery of a lost civilization in the Sahara region of Libya by British archaeologists, potholers in the UK have succeeded in creating an underground cave network, connecting Cumbaria, Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Cavers have linked over 60 miles (about 102 km) of caverns and natural tunnels under the high ground close to Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbria. The caves, known as Three Counties System, go through Cumbria, Lancashire and Yorkshire, reported BBC.

A bunch or cravers have cleared the path through mud and rocks under the deep pennines to reconnect the tow caves systems divided during the end of the last Ice Age. The project took over 40 years to complete.

"When I first started, the geologists and experts all said there was nothing more to be found and we wouldn't get a two-county system, never mind a three-county system," said potholer Andy Walsh.

It is believed that this is the longest underground labyrinth with over 100km caverns and tunnels in Britain.

"The Cumbria side, each corner's passage changes shape and form completely, it's mind blowing. It's the 22nd longest in the world. And this is not the end of the system, there is more to find," Walsh added.

Chris Jewell, from the British Caving Association, said he was happy to see the original cave discovery in the UK and was eager to see more.

"It's great for caving to have a good news story and it's great for cavers seeing their fellow cavers being successful. This shows that you don't have to go to a different corner of the world for original exploration," Jewell added.

Libya