Chil-Ustun

Chil-Ustun Cave (Kyrgyz: Чил-Устун үңкүрү) also known as Aravan Cave is located in the Southwest of Kyrgyzstan in the Osh Mountains, composed of Paleozoic limestones, in 3.5 km from Aravan, Kyrgyzstan.[1] It is a protected natural monument.[2] The cave belongs to the group of Karst caves of outlier mountains to the west of Osh.[3][4]

Chil-Ustun Cave
Чилустун үңкүрү (in Kyrgyz)
Coordinates	40°32′19″N 72°31′32″E
Length	380 m
Elevation	1100 m
Discovery	Ancient times
Entrances	1
Show cave opened	no
Lighting	Nne

The entrance to the cave forms a 15 meter tall and approximately 25 meter wide arc. The cave is 380 meters long [5] or up to 350 meters according to another source.[4] It is located in a rock formation at 1100 meters above sea level. The entrance is located on a steep, oblique rock face.

The cave's existence has been known since mediaeval times as attested by Arabic inscriptions on the walls.

The cave consists of 3 chambers of different sizes, connected with corridors and narrow openings. The largest chamber is 85 m X 40 m X 20 m in size.

Inside the cave, stalactites and stalagmites (columns) reach heights of over 50 meters. These forms vary in color, from white and cream to dark brown.