Everest is the highest altitude in the world, the Mariana Trench is the deepest seabed, and the Pacific is the largest ocean in the world. But what is the largest natural hole on the planet? The answer lies in China, where experts discovered it in 1994 (although it was already known to the locals) the deepest pit in the world.
This huge formation is located in Fengjie County, Chongqing Municipality, where there is a pit with a diameter of about 537 meters. It sinks into the Earth between 511 and 662 meters. In other words, almost two Eiffel towers fit inside.
The so-called Xiaozhai Tiankeng (Xiaozhai Heavenly Well) has almost vertical walls and its volume reaches 119.3 million cubic meters. The ditch is actually divided into a dual structure, meaning it is made of two large ‘bowls’ that divide it into two heights, each more than 300 meters deep.
At the bottom of the cliff there is also an underground river flowing about 8.5 kilometers underground. Before seeing the light of day on the cliff of the Migong River, the point where groundwater forms a 46-meter-high waterfall.
Habitat for a wide variety of species
It is also a biodiversity haven. to exist 1,285 registered plant species creates a unique and rare ecosystem in the depths of this natural well. With only 10,000 specimens in the wild, the clouded leopard is one of its main protagonists.Like Ginkgo biloba, a rare tree species.
This huge well is located in a large karst area and consists of Triassic limestones. Geologists claim that formed gradually over the last 128,000 yearsit is therefore a relatively young formation compared to other similar sinkholes in the region as well as in other parts of the planet.
In fact, China is home to a significant number of large natural sinkholes, commonly known as ‘tiankeng’, meaning ‘heavenly well’. Normally, they are at least 100 meters deep and 100 meters wide, and a river flows below them.
The effect of rain on such rocks causes such phenomena to occur, and also underground rivers appear at its base.
these formations They require very special conditions to exist. for this to appear tiankeng For an underground river to form, a very thick, clean layer of carbonate or sandstone had to form above sea level and in a place where it rains heavily. Nature has of course done her job and the result is spectacular (and growing).
China is not the only place in the world where these natural wells are found, Of the 75 people worldwide with more than 100 meters, 50 of the largest are in Chinathat’s why they’re all called by the Chinese name at the end.
2,800 steps to the bottom
In the case of the Xiaozhai sinkhole, it remained completely anonymous until scientists uncovered it in the 1990s. from there and With the increase in tourism in the country, structures have been created to visit this place.
For example, several paths have been opened to reach its interior. One of them includes a Stairs with at least 2,800 zigzag steps to get to the bottom. However, not all enthusiasts are willing to descend (let alone go up) so many steps.
……
Contact address of the environment department: [email protected]