Xiaozhai Sinkhole

China / Hubei / Enshi /
 sinkhole  Add category
The Xiaozhai sinkhole is 626 metres long, 537 metres wide, and between 511 to 662 metres deep, with vertical walls. Its volume is 119,349,000 m³ and the area of its opening is 274,000 m². This material has been dissolved and carried away by the river. The sinkhole is a doubly nested structure—the upper bowl is 320 metres deep, the lower bowl is 342 metres deep, and the two bowls are on average 257 to 268 m across. Between both these steps is a sloping ledge, formed due to soil trapped in the limestone. In the rainy season, a waterfall can be seen at the mouth of the sinkhole.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xiaozhai_Tiankeng
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   30°45'1"N   109°28'13"E

Comments

  • Largest sinkhole of the world, up to 662 m deep! Discovered only in 1994. Its bottom is crossed by an underground river which appears at one side and disappears at the other. More information here: http://www.wondermondo.com/Countries/As/China/Chongqing/Xiaozhai.htm
This article was last modified 2 years ago