1995年,被定為(wei)“國(guo)際溶(rong)洞協(xie)會探險基(ji)地”(全國(guo)僅二家),并(bing)被吸(xi)收(shou)為(wei)國(guo)際溶(rong)洞協(xie)會會員(yuan)(全國(guo)僅三(san)家)。
九(jiu)天(tian)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)因(yin)有(you)(you)(you)九(jiu)個天(tian)窗(chuang)與洞(dong)(dong)(dong)頂地(di)面相(xiang)(xiang)通而(er)得(de)名。1987年山溶(rong)(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)探險勇士王海(hai)然發現,1988年正式對游(you)人開(kai)放(fang),被列為(wei)省級(ji)風(feng)景(jing)名勝區,同年,經國際溶(rong)(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)組織專家考(kao)察(cha)論證(zheng),認為(wei)九(jiu)天(tian)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)規模龐大,景(jing)觀獨特(te),還有(you)(you)(you)一(yi)批溶(rong)(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)群(qun)沒(mei)有(you)(you)(you)開(kai)發,適合開(kai)展探險考(kao)察(cha),因(yin)而(er)正式接納九(jiu)天(tian)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)作為(wei)國際溶(rong)(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)組織成員單位,同時確(que)定九(jiu)天(tian)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)為(wei)國際溶(rong)(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)探險基(ji)地(di),九(jiu)天(tian)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)從(cong)此進(jin)入國際溶(rong)(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)世界,身價(jia)(jia)倍增。經考(kao)察(cha),發現洞(dong)(dong)(dong)內有(you)(you)(you)古樹化石(shi)和其它溶(rong)(rong)洞(dong)(dong)(dong)極少見的(de)巖溶(rong)(rong)物質,不僅是難得(de)的(de)自然景(jing)觀,而(er)且有(you)(you)(you)極高的(de)科研(yan)價(jia)(jia)值。已經探明可供游(you)覽的(de)面積有(you)(you)(you)250公(gong)頃(qing),號(hao)稱(cheng)“亞(ya)洲第一(yi)大洞(dong)(dong)(dong)”。洞(dong)(dong)(dong)口南側2.5公(gong)里處(chu),有(you)(you)(you)集自然風(feng)光和濃郁(yu)民族風(feng)情于一(yi)體的(de)風(feng)巒(luan)溪天(tian)然森(sen)林公(gong)園(yuan)與之相(xiang)(xiang)依相(xiang)(xiang)襯;洞(dong)(dong)(dong)口東南向2公(gong)里處(chu),澧水像(xiang)條銀色飄帶,蜿蜒(yan)流(liu)過。
九(jiu)天(tian)(tian)洞總面(mian)積達250多(duo)萬平(ping)方(fang)米,分(fen)上、中(zhong)、下三層(ceng),最底層(ceng)于地表420米。洞內有40個大廳、3條陰河、12條瀑布、5座自(zi)生橋、6處千丘田、3個自(zi)然湖。洞中(zhong)石筍、石柱林立,石簾、石幔遍布。堆珍疊玉、千姿(zi)百態。九(jiu)天(tian)(tian)洞被譽為中(zhong)國溶洞奇葩。