Biggest Sinkholes Around The World

Biggest Sinkholes Around The World.

What are sinkholes? Imagine standing on solid ground one minute and tumbling down a deep hole the other. That is a reality experienced by those who have fallen into sinkholes. These holes open up suddenly, without any indications of what is to happen. Understanding how such a hole can appear without any warning may seem difficult, but in fact is quite simple. Sinkholes are found all over the world. In the U.S., sinkholes are especially common in Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and Florida, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Sinkholes can be natural or man made. Natural sinkholes occur due to erosion or underground water. They start developing long time before it actually appears. The ground beneath our feet is not as much of a solid structure as we think it is. There is water continually seeping in between the mud, rocks and minerals, as it makes its way down to the ground water reservoirs. As this happens, the water slowly erodes the rocks and minerals. Sometimes the flow of water increases to a point when it washes away the underground structure of the land. And when the structure becomes too weak to support the surface of the earth, it collapses and opens up a hole. This is how sinkholes are formed. Humans are also responsible for the formation of sinkholes. Activities like drilling, mining, construction, broken water or drain pipes, improperly compacted soil after excavation work or even heavy traffic can result in small to large sinkholes.

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https://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2016/nov/08/biggest-city-sinkholes-fukuoka-around-world-in-pictures