A sinkhole is a hole or depression that forms on the ground when water erodes or dissolves the surface rock. Sinkholes may be formed suddenly or gradually over the years. Springs or other water bodies lead to the formation of sinkholes in many regions around the world. Sinkholes are not only formed naturally; they can be man-made also. They may be created while constructing roads or buildings. Several famous sinkholes in the world are man-made. In this blog, let’s look at some fascinating sinkhole facts from around the world.
Sinkholes are also some of the most fascinating unexplored places on earth. Sinkhole erosion is pretty common in Florida, US. One of the popular sinkholes here was formed under a pile of gypsum stack.
Amazing Sinkholes – Nature Facts
1.The land that surrounds the Dead Sea is highly prone to sinkholes because it contains rock salt, which can very easily be dissolved by water.
Sinkholes are always gradually formed over the years.
- A. True
- B. False
2.A “blue hole” is actually a huge marine sinkhole. Many of the blue holes in the world lead to submerged cave passages. The Great Blue Hole is located off the coast of Belize, Central America.
3.The world’s deepest blue hole is in the South China Sea. It’s known as the “Dragon Hole.”
4.The Daisetta Sinkhole in Texas, Houston, is known to have swallowed a number of cars and oil tanks. Also, an alligator took up residence in the waters of the Daisetta Sinkhole!
5.The largest sinkhole in the US is in Alabama, and it’s a recent “collapse” sinkhole. Known as the “Golly Hole,” this sinkhole is 325 feet long, 300 feet broad, and 120 feet deep. It is surely one of America’s most mysterious places.
6.The Qattara Depression in Cairo, Egypt, is a dangerous and shocking sinkhole. This huge pit contains sludge-filled quicksand. Apart from being dangerous, the Qattara Depression is unearthly in size.
7.One of the sinkhole locations that resulted in the death of two people is in Guatemala City, the largest city in Central America. People in the city had been hearing loud rumblings for weeks together, but didn’t realize what was happening. Then, out of the blue, a perfectly circular section of the ground dropped nearly 30 stories below. More than 1000 people had to be evacuated from the area. This sinkhole in Guatemala City is also considered one of the natural wonders in the US due to its neat hole with an almost-perfect circular shape.
8.Here is a nugget of information about sinkhole tourism! Many sinkholes on the earth have now turned into tourist attractions or swim parks! An example of such sinkholes is in Bimmah, Oman, where the residents converted the sinkhole into a tourist trap.
9.Many sinkholes around the world have formed their own ecosystems. In fact, there are several holes that have their own flora and fauna! “Sinkholes and ecosystems” is a highly researched topic that is of interest to many scientists.
10.The Devil’s Sinkhole in Texas, US, is around 400 feet deep. There is some archaeological evidence that confirms that Native Americans in the United States had considered this sinkhole sacred!
The Largest Sinkhole
The world’s largest sinkhole is in China, and it’s called “Xiaoxhai Tiankeng.” Tiankeng means “The Heavenly Pit.” It’s also the deepest sinkhole in the world! Thus, it has broken many of the world records for sinkholes.
Hope you found our sinkhole facts from around the world interesting. Make sure that you remember them all by answering the Quiz on this page.