DRAFTED BY SHUBHAM SHARMA
An ancient forest has been found at the bottom of a giant sinkhole in the Guangxi region of southern China. The sinkhole measures 306 meters in length, is 150 meters in width, and 192 meters in depth, with its volume exceeding 5 million cubic meters. In Mandarin, giant sinkholes are called Tiankeng or “heavenly pit”.
Interestingly, the sinkhole has three big caves in the walls and its bottom has a well-preserved primitive forest with trees nearly 40 meters high. China Geological Survey claimed that the sinkhole had three caves in its walls along with a well-preserved primitive forest at the bottom.
How Sinkholes are formed
Sinkholes typically arise in “karst” terrains, and southern China has karst topography, which is known for stunning sinkholes and otherworldly caverns. Rainwater, which is somewhat acidic, absorbs carbon dioxide and becomes more acidic as it passes through the soil. It then trickles, rushes, and flows through bedrock fissures, gradually expanding them into tunnels and voids. If a cave chamber becomes large enough, the ceiling can eventually collapse, resulting in massive sinkholes.
Sinkholes can also be formed due to human activity. According to the British Geological Survey, this can happen due to broken land drains, water mains and sewerage pipes, increased rainfall, storm events, underlying limestone, and diverted surface water, among other reasons.
WHY SINKHOLES ARE IMPORTANT
The sinkhole’s interior is 1,004 feet (306 m) long and 492 feet (150 m) wide. The bottom of the sinkhole did indeed seem like another world or heavenly pit. Karst caves and sinkholes can provide an oasis for life. there are species found in these caves that have never been reported or described by science until now.
OTHER SINKHOLES AROUND THE WORLD
About 20 percent of the US is made up of karst landscapes. The largest sinkhole in the US is called the “Golly Hole”, which collapsed suddenly in 1972 and is over 325 ft long, 300 ft wide, and 120 ft deep.
Other sinkhole-prone areas around the world include Mexico, parts of Italy, and Russia.
China is having around 30 Sinkholes all around its territory.
