A group of cave explorers near Ping’e village in Leye County, located in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of South China, came across a colossal sinkhole that nurtures an ancient forest at its base. The sinkhole spans 306 meters in length, and 150 meters in width, and reaches a depth of 192 meters, holding over 5 million cubic meters of volume, which classifies it as a significant sinkhole.
This remarkable site can be found within Leye Fengshan UNESCO Global Geopark.
The sinkhole was located in the Leye Fengshan UNESCO Global Geopark, situated in the Southwestern region of China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. This Geopark is predominantly composed of sedimentary rock, with more than 60% of its 3,000 consisting of Devonian to Permian carbonate formations. It is noted for having “the land of caves and the world’s longest natural bridge.”
Known as the “Heavenly Pit,” the sinkhole boasts a well-preserved ancient forest at its depths, along with three caves contained within its walls. Researchers examining this “lost world” believe it may host undiscovered species. Zhang Yuanhai, a senior engineer at the Institute of Karst Geology of the China Geological Survey, stated that the ancient forest could hold previously unknown plant and animal species.
According to the researchers, this discovery is truly extraordinary.
The unearthing of the sinkhole alongside the ancient forest below holds significant implications. Chen Lixin, who spearheaded the Guangxi 702 cave expedition team that revealed the chasm, remarked, “I wouldn’t be surprised if there are species within these caves that have not been documented or described by science up to this point.”
Researcher and expedition leader Chen Lixin asserts, “There are species in this cave that have gone unreported and undescribed in scientific literature.”
The finding of the sinkhole and its ancient forest could offer crucial insights regarding the evolution of life on Earth. Furthermore, it may assist scientists in comprehending the development and transformation of ecosystems over time. This discovery serves as a poignant reminder of how much remains to be explored about our planet and the diverse life forms it supports.
As we uncover the secrets of this concealed world beneath a Chinese sinkhole, it ignites curiosity about the other remarkable discoveries yet to be unveiled around the globe.
