A 192-metre-deep sinkhole has been discovered by a team of Chinese cave explorers in the country’s Guangxi region, with trees as tall as 40m inside, some of which are thought to be new species.
30th giant karst sinkhole discovered in south China’s Guangxi pic.twitter.com/52ZxFnyuWF
— CGTN (@CGTNOfficial) May 11, 2022
Zhang Yuanhai, a senior engineer with the Institute of Karst Geology of China Geological Survey, said the sinkhole is thought to be 304 m in length and 149 m in width.
Sinkholes are not unknown in the country. Located near the Ping’e village in Southern China, this discovery brings the country’s known number of sinkholes to 30.
‘Because of local differences in geology, climate and other factors, the way karst appears at the surface can be dramatically different,’ George Veni, director of the National Cave & Karst Research Institute in the US told the New York Post. ‘So in China, you have this incredibly visually spectacular karst with enormous sinkholes and giant cave entrances.’
The expedition took place on 6 May, with team members abseiling more than 100 m down and having to trek for several hours to reach the hole’s bottom.
Picture: Screenshot
ALSO READ
New pack of African wild dogs released into Mabula Game Reserve
