In the remote stretches of Southwestern China, within the bounds of the Leye-Fengshan Global Geopark, lies a natural wonder that seems more like a scene from a fantasy novel than reality.
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Two years ago, scientists uncovered a colossal sinkhole that hosts an ancient, lush forest with trees soaring nearly 130 feet into the air.
Situated in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, this sinkhole extends over 1,000 feet in length, 490 feet in width, and plunges nearly 630 feet deep.
Known as a "heavenly pit" or "tiankeng" in Mandarin, these breathtaking sinkholes were previously unexplored as people feared "demons" or "ghosts" may be hiding in the mists swirling up from the depths, according to the BBC.
However, some of their mysteries have now been uncovered due to the use of drones as well as brave explorers who have lowered themselves into parts of the Earth not visited in thousands of years.
The intrigue deepens with the revelation that this cavernous ecosystem might be home to previously unknown flora and fauna.
The UNESCO Global Geopark, where this sinkhole is located, forms a unique 'S'-shaped structure in the karst areas of Leye and Fengshan counties, influencing the development of two large subterranean rivers, the Bailang and Poyue.
This complex geological formation has given rise to various 'karst geosites' including springs, natural bridges, and extensive caves.
Karst terrain, characterized by its soluble bedrock, is known for creating dramatic landscapes riddled with sinkholes and cave systems due to the erosion of the landscape both above and below ground.
According to George Veni, the executive director of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute, the visual spectacle of karst in China is exceptionally striking compared to other parts of the world, where karst features might be subtler.
Chen Lixin, who led the sinkhole expedition, expressed his anticipation of scientific breakthroughs, stating to Live Science: "I wouldn’t be surprised to know that there are species found in these caves that have never been reported or described by science until now."
His excitement underscores the potential for these hidden ecosystems to contribute significantly to our understanding of biodiversity and the evolutionary processes that shape life in isolation.
Furthermore, the formation of these sinkholes is a fascinating geological process in itself. Slightly acidic rainwater, after absorbing carbon dioxide and percolating through the soil, dissolves the underlying bedrock, carving out vast underground voids. Over time, if one of these chambers grows large enough, the ceiling may collapse, creating a sinkhole like the one discovered in the Geopark.
This particular sinkhole is just one of 30 identified in the region, though not the largest. That title belongs to the Xiaozhai Tiankeng, also known as 'The Heavenly Pit,' which is the world's biggest sinkhole by volume and houses over 1200 species of plants and animals within its 2,100-foot-deep chasm.
Zhang Yuanhai, a senior engineer at the Institute of Karst Geology, describes the site as harboring a "well-preserved primitive forest at the bottom," with three cave entrances.
The world is known to have over 300 sinkholes, two-thirds of which are in China, largely in the west of the country, with Gunagxi province in the south having 30 known tiankeng, more than anywhere else.
However, the discovery of these incredible new frontiers has drawn interest from tourists hoping to explore them themselves, raising fears that these finds could then be lost forever.
The discovery of such ecosystems is a reminder of the Earth's hidden wonders and the importance of protecting these fragile environments.
As scientists continue to explore these subterranean realms, each finding contributes to a greater appreciation of the natural world and the interconnectedness of life across diverse habitats.
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