The most unusual holes on earth. The scariest big holes in the earth

Our planet is amazing. Undoubtedly, pits and holes on the surface of the earth, whether man-made or created by nature, have always been unusual. TravelAsk will tell about the deepest holes today.

TOP-1: Mir kimberlite pipe in Yakutia

Even from one look at this diamond quarry it becomes scary. Imagine how you feel when you stand on its edge. This is one of the deepest quarries in the world, its depth is 525 meters and its diameter is 1.2 kilometers. True, diamond mining was stopped here back in 2001, and now underground mines are being built here, some of them have already been put into operation, since open-pit mining is already unprofitable. With the help of such mines, they plan to work out the remnants of diamond reserves under the quarry.

TOP 2: Big Hole Kimberlite Pipe in South Africa

This is a huge diamond quarry, which is made by hand. It is considered the largest mine in the world, made without the use of special equipment. It is located in the city of Kimberley in (by the way, it was this city that gave the names to the rest of the kimberlite pipes in the world).

Now the quarry is not working, but for almost 50 years (from 1866 to 1914) about 50 thousand miners managed to work here. They dug this shaft with shovels and pickaxes, mining a huge amount of diamonds: 2,722 tons.

Quarry area is impressive: 17 hectares. It is 463 meters wide and 240 meters deep. However, the hole was covered with waste rock, thereby reducing the depth to 215 meters. Later, the bottom of the "Big Hole" was filled with water.

Today, the quarry attracts tourists, but only creates problems for the region: after all, its edges can collapse, and it’s dangerous to drive along the roads that are laid nearby. Therefore, trucks have long been banned from passing through this territory, and cars are advised to choose other routes.

By the way, it was here that the largest diamonds were found: De Beers at 428.5 carats, known for its bluish-white Porter Rhodes at 150 carats, as well as the orange-yellow Tiffany at 128.5 carats.

TOP 3: Great Blue Hole in Belize

This is one of the most beautiful places on the planet and the main attraction of Belize. Tourists from all over the world come to see it. Moreover, despite the fact that the Great Blue Hole is located almost 100 kilometers from Belize, diving enthusiasts still come here.

Once they were limestone caves that were formed during the last ice age. After raising the level of the world's oceans, the arches of the cave simply collapsed, and this is how this karst funnel was formed.

The blue hole has an almost perfect round shape, surrounded by white-green rock protruding above it. It goes to a depth of 120 meters, and a diameter of 305 meters.

TOP 4: Drainage in the Monticello Dam

This is the largest water drain in the world, look how powerful it is, it feels like nothing will be left of the lake in a few minutes.

This artificial funnel functions as a valve and releases excess water from the dam reservoir.

In fact, this is a giant pipe made of concrete with a depth of about 21 meters. In its shape, it resembles an inverted cone with a base of 9 meters and a top of 22 meters. The pipe brings water out of the other side of the dam for about 200 meters when the reservoir is overflowing with water.

Top 5: failure in Guatemala

And this failure was formed just in one day. Just imagine, on the night of February 27, 2007, the ground on one of the streets of Guatemala simply collapsed. Several houses went into the pit, people died. The depth of this giant funnel was approximately 150 meters, and the diameter was 20 meters.

As the results of geologists' research have shown, the reasons for this failure are groundwater. The downpours that hit the city also contributed to the tragedy. By the way, some time before the failure, people began to feel strange noises and hum coming from the ground. And it simply washed out the soil. Under your feet.

And our TOP did not include two huge man-made pits: and. They deserve separate stories.

Our world is filled with majestic sights. Some of the spectacular wonders of the planet are man-made, but most of them are related to nature. These include the mysterious holes on Earth.

Mystery Hole Deluxe

Its origin is still a mystery. No one can explain how it was formed. And even with the most innovative methods, it is impossible to measure its depth!

glory hole

Located on the beautiful Monticello Dam. The Glory Hole seems like a tunnel into the very depths of the planet! However, it is designed to release water.

Funnel Soumill

Located in the Bahamas, and in fact is a place of archaeological research. This place helped scientists understand what the Earth looked like thousands of years ago.

Devil's Funnel

Judging by the appearance, this place can hardly be called the Devil's Funnel. But this is a forbidden area, as it is very dangerous. In summer, you can see millions of bats flying out of the abyss.

big blue hole

It can be seen in the Caribbean. During the last ice age, a system of caves formed here. The hole is considered one of the best diving sites in the world.

Dean's Blue Hole

If you go to the Bahamas, be sure to visit Dean's Blue Hole. It is considered the deepest blue hole on the planet, and therefore ideal for diving enthusiasts.

harwood hole

Interestingly, this is more of a cave than a hole. This is the deepest vertical cave in New Zealand.

Diamond mine "Mirnaya"

Giant in size (525 meters deep and 1200 meters wide), an open-pit diamond mine is considered the second largest excavated hole in the world.

Kimberlite pipe "Udachnaya"

In addition to the Mirny mine, diamonds are also mined in the Udachnoy pipe, which is located 20 km from the Arctic Circle.

Sky Hole (Tianken Xiaozhai)

Believe it or not, it was formed over 120,000 years ago. Today, the hole has become an ideal place for skydiving enthusiasts.

Bingham Canyon

To the west of Salt Lake City is one of the largest open pit mines in the world where copper ore is mined.

Hole in Guatemala

In 2010, a hole 20 meters deep formed in the capital of Guatemala. She not only destroyed the road, but also swallowed up a three-story factory. There were many versions of the formation of a funnel. The main ones are the eruption of the Pacaya volcano, a tropical storm and water leakage from nearby sewer pipes.

Source: elitereaders.com

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Incredible Facts

Imagine that you are calmly walking down the street, when suddenly the earth begins to shake and a huge hole suddenly forms under you. This is not a horror movie script, but a phenomenon called sinkhole, which can reach incredible sizes and absorb everything that is on the surface.

The other day in Florida, USA, a 37-year-old man was swallowed by a huge hole, which opened right in his bedroom while he slept.

sinkhole about 6 meters wide and more than 15 meters deep led to the collapse of the concrete floor in the house.

Five other people in the house heard the loud noise and the man's screams, but they were not hurt. Affected Jeff Bush (Jeff Bush), most likely did not survive after he fell into the ground.

sinkhole

A sinkhole that has suddenly opened up in Florida is a phenomenon that is more common than we think. What causes them and how dangerous are they?

Most sinkholes form when acid rain water gradually dissolves limestone and other soils, leaving a huge void that leads to collapse of what is on the surface, whether it be an open field, a road or a house.

Collapse can occur suddenly, or it can simply lead to gradual subsidence of the soil or the formation of small reservoirs and salt marshes.

Sinkholes are found everywhere, especially in the USA, China, Mexico and Papua New Guinea.

The biggest holes in the earth

Here are some photos of huge holes swallowing up streets, sidewalks and buildings around the world.

1. Sarisarinam Plateau, Venezuela

The Sarisariñama Plateau is located in the Jaua-Sarisarinama Park in Venezuela and is one of the mysterious and beautiful natural wonders of the world. There are several dips on the plateau up to 350 meters in diameter and 350 meters deep.

Each hole has developed its own ecosystem with unique species of animals and plants.

2. Failure in Berezniki, Russia

The failure in Berezniki was formed in 1986 as a result of an accident at the mine, and every year the situation only worsened. In 2007, the size of the dip at the first mine was 80 by 20 meters, and depth up to 200 meters. By the end of August 2012, the fourth funnel had grown to 103 by 100 meters.

3. Hole in Guatemala

In February 2007, in Guatemala, a sinkhole 100 meters deep swallowed up more than a dozen houses. More than 100 people were evacuated and three people died. The hole was the result of corrosion of the sewer system deep below the surface. The failure was accompanied by loud sounds, and an unbearable smell emanated from the hole.

Another hole formed in Guatemala in 2010 18 meters wide and 60 meters deep.

4. Bimmah, Oman

The Bimmah Sinkhole is a limestone crater that is now a popular tourist attraction in Oman.

Other holes in the ground

5. In May 1981, a giant hole formed during the day in Winter Park in Florida, USA. The city has turned this area into an urban lake.

6. In 1995, a sinkhole 18 meters deep, measuring 60 by 45 meters, swallowed up two houses in San Francisco.

7. In the city of Dycett, Texas in the USA, a relatively small 6-meter sinkhole has expanded to 270 meters per day.

8. In November 2003, rescuers had to pull out a bus in Lisbon, Portugal, after it fell into a hole. 9 meters deep that was supposedly caused by heavy rains.

9. In March 2007, a road collapsed into an underground network of caves in the southern Italian city of Gallipoli.

10. In September 2008, the road collapsed, forming a failure 5 meters deep and 10 meters wide in Guangzhou Province, China.

11. In May 2012, a hole formed on the road in Shaanxi Province, China. 15 meters long, 10 meters wide and 6 meters deep.

12. Another road in this province failed in December 2012, resulting in a hole 6 meters deep and 10 meters wide.

At the end of July, in the Nizhny Novgorod region in the Shatkovsky district, a huge karst funnel formed near the village of Neledino. The depth of the failure is 50 meters, and its diameter is 32 meters. Fortunately, the ground collapsed in the middle of the field, and therefore no one was hurt.

The funnel in Neledino, although impressive, is not the largest in the world. We tell you about other giant holes.

Karst sinkhole in Guatemala

One of the most famous and creepy holes on the planet with a depth of 150 meters and a diameter of 20 meters was formed in 2011 in the capital of Guatemala as a result of soil erosion by rain and groundwater. During the formation of the failure, several people died, about a dozen houses were destroyed, including an entire garment factory, which collapsed into the pit. According to local residents, a few months before the tragedy, ground movements were felt in this place, and a rumble was heard from under the ground.

Kimberlite pipe "Mir" (Mir diamond pipe)

One of the largest holes in the Earth is located in the city of Mirny in Yakutia.

The Mir kimberlite pipe is a quarry 525 meters deep and 1.2 kilometers in diameter. It is one of the world's largest diamond quarries.

Diavik Quarry

The youngest diamond quarry is located on the island of Las de Gras, 220 kilometers south of the Arctic Circle, off the coast of Canada. Already because of its location, this hole is unique. In the future, the quarry is planned to deepen and expand.

Drainage hole in the reservoir of the Monticello dam

A huge sinkhole in the ground, which is the largest spillway in the world, is located in Northern California, USA. Built 55 years ago, the drain looks like a giant concrete pipe. Its depth is 21 meters. The funnel has the shape of a cone. The diameter at the top reaches almost 22 meters, and at the bottom it narrows to 9 meters. It leaves after 200 meters on the other side of the dam, removing excess water from the reservoir.

Since we already had it today, let's continue it a little. What do you think, is it real or painted in the photo? Many of my friends already know the answer to this question, but I just came across this photo again and once again decided to put all the dots over the "i" and at the same time make a note about it in my blog.

We jump under the cut and remove all questions ...

Clickable 3880 px

Many on the Internet doubted that this was true. They tried to appeal to the strongly even edges of this hole, to the suspiciously regular circle, to the insufficiently regular transition of the earth into the darkness of the depths, and so on. But everything in the photos is all in reality.

A hole of almost perfect round shape with a diameter of about 20 meters and 30 meters deep. It was formed in July 2010 in one of the districts of the city of Guatemala.

In the place where you see a huge funnel, the bottom of which is not visible even from a helicopter, once there was a three-story building of a garment factory.

The mysterious crater was cordoned off by police, geologists worked on the spot. Experts definitely cannot understand the cause of the funnel. It is worth noting that a little more than three years ago, literally two kilometers from this place, an almost similar “black hole” had already formed in the earth. However, Tropical Storm Agatha could be one of the reasons. Such floods and landslides have not been seen in this region for the past 60 years. The elements destroyed roads and bridges, rivers overflowed their banks, many areas were cut off from the outside world.

“I can tell you what was not the cause: it is not the fault of geology and it is not caused by an earthquake. That's all we know at the moment, and we will be forced to go down inside, ”said David Monterroso, a geophysical engineer from the National Emergency Management Agency.

Meanwhile, scientists agree that the round shape of the funnel suggests the presence of a karst cavity under it. While geologists are puzzling over the causes of the "crater", many local residents whose houses are located in the immediate vicinity of the "black hole" are already trying to change their homes.

It is not clear why there are no frames on the Internet studying this funnel, well, it would not be interesting for anyone to go down there with a camera. Or at least lower a camera with a searchlight on a cable and shoot what is there at depth.

Here is the same hurricane that could have caused this funnel to appear.

For seven days, residents of Guatemala and neighboring Honduras and El Salvador had to deal with a volcanic eruption that spewing tons of ash, a powerful tropical storm, floods and landslides, and a terrifying "black" hole that swallowed up a small factory and an intersection in Guatemala City. Volcano Pacaya began spewing lava and rock on Thursday, May 27, blanketing Guatemala in ash that forced the airport to close. One TV reporter, who was at that moment not far from the volcano, died. Two days later, while the Guatemalans were clearing the ashes, Tropical Hurricane Agata hit the region, bringing floods and mudslides that washed away bridges, filled villages with mud, and created a giant hole in the center of Guatemala's capital.

A woman stands in mud after a landslide caused by Hurricane Agata in the Amatitlán El Pedregal area on May 31. On Monday, stunned victims of Hurricane Agatha and rescuers began to find bodies in the mud. In total, according to the latest data, 179 people died in Central America. (REUTERS/Daniel LeClair)

Lava flows from the Pacaya volcano, near the capital of Guatemala, on May 28. Pacaya erupted on Thursday, May 27, killing journalist Anibal Archila, who was reporting for the local TV channel Noti7. (REUTERS/Daniel LeClair)

Cameraman Byron Sesaida gives his side of the story after he was rescued from the Pacaya volcano on May 27. Byron worked with journalist Anibal Archila, who died while filming a program about a volcanic eruption for the TV channel Noti7. (REUTERS/Daniel LeClair)

A man displays volcanic ash removed from his car on May 27 in Villa Nueva, after the powerful eruption of the Pacaya volcano, 50 km south of Guatemala. (JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Villagers left their homes fearing more eruptions from the Pacaya volcano in Las Calderas, Guatemala. (JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Two men watch a huge wave on May 29 in the port of San José, 110 km south of Quetemala. The first tropical hurricane of the season, named Agatha, hit the country, bringing with it heavy rainfall, causing landslides and flooding. (JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

People climb a bridge after part of it was washed away by Hurricane Agatha in Barberene on May 30. (REUTERS/Daniel LeClair)

An Amatitlán resident at an Asus dealership dumps the dirt he removed from his home after the Mico River burst its banks on June 1. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

A woman crosses a muddy road after the Mico River overflowed its banks in Amatitlán on June 11. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

People inspect a car destroyed by a landslide in the Palin district, Escuintla department, Guatemala. (JOHAN ORDONEZ/AFP/Getty Images)

Maria del Carmen de Ramirez watched as the funnel was born. She was at home when the fatal downpour began - by the way, meteorologists say that more than 30 centimeters of rain fell in 30 hours, and barely managed to run out of her own home. “I saw through the window how the clothing factory next door disappeared,” she says. “She just melted.” Maria del Carmen claims it's a miracle that none of the factory workers were hurt: working hours ended exactly one hour before the storm. And the watchman, who is usually on duty at night, took the day off on that day to visit his relatives. “In the afternoon, hundreds of students came to the factory to get their uniforms,” she says. “If the rain had started a few hours earlier, it would have turned into a big tragedy.”

Residents of the surrounding houses are still afraid to come back. Those who have not left their dwellings live in constant fear that their house may in an instant be at the bottom of the pit. “At night I wake up every ten minutes,” says one of the locals. “I am frightened by every rustle - it seems to me that it is rain drumming on the roof.”

Experts, however, could not determine the exact cause of the hole. Geologists say that the porous structure of limestone - the main component of the soil in Ciudad Nueva - year after year received rainwater, gradually increasing the holes. And the downpour worked as a catalyst. The management of a local cement plant suggested mixing the volcanic ash from the Pacaya volcano, which had erupted four days earlier, with cement and filling the funnel with the resulting mass. According to experts, it will take 12 to 18 months to fill the well.

It should be noted that something similar has already happened in Guatemala. In February 2007, a similar sinkhole appeared in the same city, but 100 meters deep. The distance between the two failures is several kilometers. One can only imagine how the residents living in this area of ​​Guatemala feel.

By the way, that hole...

By the way, the Guatemalan funnel is far from the only one in the world. More than twenty years ago, a similar hole suddenly appeared in the Florida State Winter Park - its depth exceeded 98 meters. In 1994, a huge well with even edges appeared in Mulbury, the same state of Florida, at the site of industrial waste dumping. In April of this year, one after another, ten sinkholes appeared in the Chinese city of Yongbing, Sichuan province. The depth of the largest hole was 80 meters

Here and photoshopers found a place for creativity!

Well, in general, if you are embarrassed by an exactly round hole, then here are more like you, albeit not such huge examples.

A beautiful funnel on a highway near the capital of Venezuela - Caracas, on December 1, 2010.

In the small town of Schmalkalden, in the German state of Thuringia, a huge crater suddenly formed. Local residents woke up in the middle of the night from the roar of car sirens. It turned out that a car fell into a hole 40 meters wide and 25 meters deep, and only by a lucky chance, no one was hurt.

The police and rescue services immediately arrived at the scene. who cordoned off a giant funnel. Residents of nearby houses were urgently evacuated.

“The earth literally opened up under my feet at about three in the morning. If this happened during the day, it would hardly have been possible to avoid casualties. We have already announced that until the causes of the natural disaster are fully clarified, people will have to temporarily leave the city. The local authorities are ready to provide them with shelter,” the police said. Bild writes about it.

A helicopter was attracted to survey the area, which, with the help of detailed surveys, will determine the actual size of the crater. According to preliminary data, the collapse of the soil could have occurred due to the fact that once intensive salt mining was carried out here. Probably, groundwater gave impetus to the formation of a dangerous landslide.

In the city of Berezniki in 2007, a giant crater was formed on the territory of one of the enterprises: 15 meters deep and with an area of ​​two and a half thousand square meters. The collapse of the soil occurred in the industrial zone, where salt mines are located underground. In dangerous proximity - a salt factory and a local thermal power plant. Just a kilometer - residential buildings.

November 25, 2003 in the center of Lisbon (Portugal), a parked bus suddenly began to go underground. The reason for everything was a deep hole formed on the roadway.

Another hole in the road in the city of Changchun in Jilin province, May 29, 2011. A truck went underground.

This hole in the Earth was formed in June 2010 in Hunan province, its dimensions are: diameter - 150 meters, depth - 50 meters. The reasons for its appearance are unclear.

On September 7, 2008, a large dip in the road (15 meters in diameter and 5 meters deep) formed in Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province.