Sinkholes vary in size from 1 to 600 m (3.3 to 2,000 ft) both in diameter and depth.
Sinkholes are common where the rock below the land surface is limestone or other carbonate rock, salt beds, or in other soluble rocks.
Sinkholes also form from human activity, such as the collapse of abandoned mines and salt cavern storage in salt domes in places.
Sinkholes tend to occur in karst landscapes. Karst landscapes can have up to thousands of sinkholes within a small area, giving the landscape a pock-marked appearance..
The Xiaozhai Tiankeng, also known as the Heavenly Pit, is the world's deepest sinkhole. It is located in Fengjie County of Chongqing Municipality.
The Xiaozhai Tiankeng is 626 metres long, 537 metres wide, and between 511 to 662 metres deep, with vertical walls. source
The Xiaozhai Tiankeng is 626 metres long, 537 metres wide, and between 511 to 662 metres deep, with vertical walls.
The Xiaozhai Tiankeng volume is 119,349,000 m³ and the area of its opening is 274,000 m². source
The Xiaozhai Tiankeng volume is 119,349,000 m³ and the area of its opening is 274,000 m².
Blue Lake (Croatian: Modro jezero or Plavo jezero) is a karst lake located near Imotski in southern Croatia.
Sinkholes near the Dead Sea, formed when underground salt is dissolved by freshwater intrusion, due to continuing sea-level drop. source
Sinkholes near the Dead Sea, formed when underground salt is dissolved by freshwater intrusion, due to continuing sea-level drop.
The state of Florida in the United States is known for having frequent sinkhole collapses.
