Cave details
The cave and its related caves are collectively known as the Three Counties System. A very complex system with more entrances than any other British cave system (28 I think but there may be more). Most entrances require the negotiation of pitches, with some routes very tight. A river runs in the lowest level creating a sporting streamway while upper levels contain large decorated passageways. The RRCPC site has a description (in sections).
The cave is divided into several major sections. The first is Easegill, which consists of multiple small tributary passages creating a maze-like structure, draining the nearby Easegill stream into Lancaster Hole's streamway. Lancaster Hole then forms the backbone of the section, with large passageways. It is joined by other tributaries from the other side of the backbone. The second major section is Pippikin, which consists of a tight pothole into a mature cave network, draining the far side of Easegill. This is then connected through Link Pot to the first major section. The third major section is a network of flooded passages starting at Pippikin Pot, draining to the resurgence caves at Witches Cave and Leck Beck Head. The flooded network also connects the fourth major section, the caves of Gavel Pot and Lost John's Cave. Both of these are potholes, with Lost John's being a very extensive vertical network. Further (unconnected) caves lie beyond this section.
Despite prior claims by the surveyors that the cave was over 100 km long, their total actually comes closer to just 60 km (corrected from 75 km in Descent issue 215, August 2010). The estimated length if the Ireby - Notts system were also to be connected is about 83 km, but the connection has not yet happened. This update shows that since about 1996-1997, Ogof Draenen has been the longest cave in Britain, but was incorrectly shown as the second longest. Once the Ireby - Notts system is connected to the Easegill system, it will clearly be far longer than the known cave in the Draenen system, and have a longer overland length.
The Easegill system holds the dubious honor of having had more deaths than any other cave in UK or Ireland in modern caving, with a total of 12 (which will become 17 once Ireby - Notts is connected). This is due, in part, to the fact that there is so much passage length in the system, and that the cave is split into several smaller caves and potholes. It is followed very closely by the far shorter Porth yr Ogof, which has had 11 deaths, and a further 1 historical. In poorly recorded history, Dunmore Cave in County Kilkenny, Ireland, holds this undesirable record, with evidence of at least 44 deaths from a Viking massacre in 928 AD, and a further adult and foetus that may also relate to the massacre. The Three Counties System falls to joint second place with Porth yr Ogof.