Buzz
Throughout history, humanity has excavated massive holes in pursuit of mineral riches. Meanwhile, nature itself occasionally forms its own extraordinary voids. This compilation highlights ten of the most incredible natural and man-made holes found across the globe. Special thanks to rushfan for contributing the images featured in this list. Click on the images to view them in a larger format.
10. Chuquicamata, Chile
Chuquicamata is a vast open-pit copper mine located in Chile. Although it is not the largest copper mine, it holds the title for the highest total copper production worldwide. The mine reaches a staggering depth of over 850 meters.
9. Udachnaya Pipe, Russia
The Udachnaya Pipe is a diamond mine located in Russia. The mine was discovered in 1955, and although it has been operational for many years, its owners decided to shift to underground mining, ceasing open-pit operations in 2010. It reaches a depth of more than 600 meters.
8. Sinkhole, Guatemala
In 2007, a massive 300-foot deep sinkhole consumed several homes in Guatemala, resulting in 2 fatalities and forcing thousands to evacuate the area. The sinkhole was triggered by heavy rains and an underground sewage flow.
7. Diavik Mine, Canada
The Diavik Mine, located in the Northwest Territories of Canada, has been operational since 2003. It produces 8 million carats, or approximately 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) of diamonds annually.
6. Mirny Diamond Mine, Siberia
The Mirny Diamond Mine reaches a depth of 525 meters and has a diameter of 1,200 meters. It was the first and one of the largest diamond pipes in the USSR, though it is now abandoned. During its operational years, it would take trucks two hours to travel from the top to the bottom of the mine.
5. Great Blue Hole, Belize
The Great Blue Hole is a vast underwater sinkhole located off the coast of Belize. It spans 1,000 feet across and reaches a depth of 400 feet. This impressive formation originated as a limestone cave during the last ice age.
4. Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah
The Bingham Canyon Mine is a vast copper mine located in the Oquirrh Mountains of Utah. The mine measures 0.75 miles (1.2 km) deep and spans 2.5 miles (4 km) in width, making it the largest man-made excavation in the world.
3. Darvaza Gas Crater, Turkmenistan
In 1971, geologists discovered a huge underground natural gas deposit at this location. During the excavation process to access the gas, the drilling rig collapsed, creating a giant hole. To prevent toxic gases from escaping, the hole was set on fire and has been burning ever since. You can watch a video of it burning here.
2. Kimberley Diamond Mine, South Africa
The Kimberley Diamond Mine, also known as the Big Hole, is considered by some to be the largest hand-dug excavation in the world. Between 1866 and 1914, 50,000 miners worked tirelessly with picks and shovels to create the hole, which yielded a total of 2,722 kg of diamonds. There are ongoing efforts to have it recognized as a World Heritage Site.
1. Monticello Dam, California
The Monticello Dam, located in Napa County, California, USA, is best known for its massive circular spillway, which has the capacity to release 48,400 cubic feet of water per second.
