A team of Chinese cavers made a remarkable discovery, uncovering a vast sinkhole nearly 200 meters deep at its base and a forest of gigantic trees thriving far beneath the surface.
The feature is a karst sinkhole formed through natural processes in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, an area renowned for its extraordinary karst landscapes that include caves, towering rock pillars, and natural bridges. This region is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its unique geology and ecological importance.
The newly explored sinkhole reaches deep depths described as almost 192 meters, while the trees reaching upward measure about 40 meters. With abundant shade for most of the day, sunlight is scarce at the bottom, yet the plant life appears to adapt by growing larger than typical forest flora to maximize any available light and nutrients.
Inside the giant sinkhole in China xinhua
Ground-level vegetation also exhibits unusual size and vigor, with some plants growing tall enough to be comparable to a grown human in height according to expedition members who documented the ascent and descent.
Scientists note that this forest might host plant and animal species that have not yet been described by science. During their descent to the bottom, researchers identified three separate entrances into the cliff and spent several hours wandering through the interior to reach the far chamber of the pit.
The hole spans roughly 306 meters in length and about 150 meters in width. From an aerial perspective, the opening resembles a sizable gap carved into the mountain range, a stark reminder of the powerful geological events that formed this landscape.
Scientists took several days to explore the abyss xinhua
Giant sinkholes, known as Tiankeng or heavenly wells in local language, are enormous geological formations that often arise from repeated landslides on karst terrain. They occur in limestone regions where soluble rocks weather away, creating spectacular, irregular shapes that draw researchers and explorers alike.
With this latest discovery, the count of sinkholes in this portion of China increases to about 30, though other sources cite similar formations to the north in different provinces.
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