A team of cave explorers entered the newly discovered heavenly sinkhole in China and makes a surprising discovery.
The cavers rappelled to the bottom of the gaping chasm, which is more than 1,000 feet long and more than 600 feet deep. They were surprised to see that what was inside the sinkhole was still alive.
A recently discovered sinkhole in the hilly outlying regions of southern China houses a lush forest in its pit. The explorers report finding ancient, towering trees at the site known as Tiankeng, a Mandarin word meaning heavenly pit.
On May 6, cave explorers discovered the gaping hole. It had a length of 1003 feet and a width of 492 feet. It is located in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, near Ping'e Village in Leye County.
To add to the mysteriousness of the sinkhole, they found three smaller cave entrances that the expedition team discovered in the 623 feet deep cavernous pit.
Speleologists, Spelunkers, and Sinkholes
The group consisted of speleologists or cave scientists, and spelunkers or cave explorers. They rappelled into the chasm to document the flora and other life forms that had thrived in the space.
The experts noticed that the opening of the sinkhole became larger and larger over the millennia.
Chen Lixin, the leader of the cave expedition team, noted that numerous ancient trees are growing at the bottom of the sinkhole, up to 140 feet tall. Their branches stretch out toward the sunlight.
There is also a dense undergrowth as high as a person's shoulders on the floor of the sinkhole.
The team believes the underground habitat may harbor some unknown species that have yet to be discovered.
George Veni, executive director of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute in New Mexico, said there could be species in the sinkhole that have never been reported or described by science before.
Veni later mused that it is interesting how people are no longer just living in caves but studying and exploring such landforms.
Read also: Scientists Thrilled to Discover New Species of Leafhopper Found in Uganda
Topnotch Topography
In the southern parts of China, the topography of the entire region consists of extensive karst terrain, making sinkholes and caves commoncave explorer in this area.
The towering karst formations with their sinkholes, rock pillars and natural bridges earned the region a UNESCO World Heritage designation.
When he pointed out that the geological conditions in this region of China are the perfect combination to create such wonders of the earth.
Recently, the 30th sinkhole was discovered in this region.
China also holds the honor of being home to the largest sinkhole in the world, with a depth of 2100 feet, a length of 2000 feet, and a width of 1760 feet. The third sinkhole is located in Xiaozhai Tiankeng and includes a waterfall in its depths.
Karst landscapes are formed when rainwater dissolves certain types of rocks, creating ridges, fissures, sinkholes, and the like.
The United States is home to 25% of the world's karst caves and sinkholes. However, the sinkholes in China have more pronounced features.
Read also: Mangrove in the Desert: Thriving Effort to Combat Climate Change