A large ancient forest has been uncovered 630 feet below the surface of a sinkhole in China’s Leye-Fengshan Global Geopark by scientists. You’d better grab on tight before you see what’s inside! The region is home to the world’s longest natural bridge and caves, according to UNESCO. It is located in China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.”The UNESCO Global Geopark is primarily sedimentary with more than 60% of 3000m thick Devonian to Permian carbonate rocks,” according to the organization’s website.
“It forms a ‘S’-shaped structure and a rhombus configuration in the karst areas of Leye and Fengshan counties respectively, which controlled two large subterranean rivers’ development, the Bailang and Poyue.” “In addition, the Buliuhe River was formed between these two subterranean rivers.” It generated numerous karst geosites around these rivers, such as towering karst peak clusters (fengcong), poljes, karst springs, karst windows (tiankengs), natural bridges, large caves, massive cave chambers, and speleothems.”
“It also has fault zones, minor folds, fossils of giant pandas, a Neogene stratigraphic section, and other fossils.” “The UNESCO Global Geopark clearly shows the stages of development of tiankengs and high fengcong karst.” It has the most spectacular karst windows in the world, the highest density of tiankengs and cave chambers in the world, and the world’s longest natural bridges.”Karst terrain has a loose soil structure that can erode from above or below the surface, resulting in sinkholes.
Scientists detected a new sinkhole in the park in May 2022. It’s around 630 feet deep, 490 feet broad, and over 1,000 feet long. There are several mature trees and plants in this sinkhole. It’s possible that some of them are new species. Scientists uncovered three cave openings in the massive chamber, which is 1,004 feet long and 492 feet broad. “It wouldn’t surprise me if we find species in these caves that science hasn’t yet documented,” said Chen Lixin, expedition leader.
He claimed that there were trees over 130 feet tall in the bush. The National Cave and Karst Research Institute’s director, George Veni, was also consulted. According to him, the karst topography, which is made up of crumbling bedrock that causes sinkholes, can vary drastically based on location, temperature, and other factors. It’s extremely astonishing that this is the region’s thirty-first known opening. The world’s largest pit may be located in Xiaozhai Tiankeng, a spot that makes China pride.
“In China you have this incredibly spectacular karst with enormous sinkholes and giant cave entrances and so forth.” “In other parts of the world, you can go out on the karst and not see anything. Sinkholes may be small, perhaps a meter or two in diameter.” “Cave entrances might be very small, so you have to squeeze your way into them.”
Although it appears unbelievable, the expert was not taken aback by the discovery. Southern China is naturally home to a huge number of intriguing caverns and sinkholes due to its wide karst topography. He stated that in a karst setting, the slightly acidic rainwater is what erodes the limestone. Rainwater takes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as it percolates into the soil, increasing its acidity.
Following that, water begins to seep and flow through the fractures in the bedrock, eventually forming holes and tunnels. When these subsurface gaps become large enough for the rock above them to collapse, a sinkhole forms. It’s extremely astonishing that this is the region’s thirty-first known opening. Xiaozhai Tiankeng is another thing that makes China proud. Other Popular Discoveries:
This gigantic sinkhole is 2,100 feet deep, 2,000 feet long, and 1,760 feet broad. It has a stream running through it, giving it a Minecraft-like aspect. View the video below:
