In our search for immeasurable wealth through minerals, diamonds, and whatever else can be discovered while digging under the ground, we’ve created a lot of holes. Sadly, a lot of these remain today, leaving massive scars across the planet. These enormous holes produce some truly impressive finds, whether they are natural or man-made. Located all over the world, these holes are certainly worth a visit simply for their sheer impressiveness. Here are ten impressive natural and man-made holes around the world.
Chuquicamata
Chuquicamata, which is a bit of a mouthful, is an open-pit
copper mine located within Chile. The mine is known for being the largest
production mine for copper in the entire world, and is over 850 meters deep in
total.
Udachnaya Pipe
The Udachnaya Pipe is a massive diamond mine located in
Russia. The owner ceased all operations in 2010 so they could focus on
underground mining, even though the hole was only discovered and excavated in
1955. Since then, the hole has grown to over 600 meters deep.
Guatemala Sinkhole
Back in 2007, a massive sinkhole emerged in the city streets
of Guatemala, killing 2 people, swallowing dozens of homes, and forcing
thousands to evacuate to safety. The hole was caused by excessive rain and
underground sewage.
Diavik Mine
Diavik Mine, located within the Northwest territories of
Canada, opened back in 2003. Since then, the mine has produced nearly 8 million
carats, or 3,500 pounds worth of diamonds every single year. The location is
rather beautiful, as it is surrounded by ocean.
Mirny Diamond Mine
The Mirny Diamond Mine is currently over 500 meters deep,
and has an impressive diameter of 1,200 meters. It was considered to be one of
the first and largest diamond pipes ever built in the USSR, but has since
become abandoned.
Great Blue Hole
The Great Blue Hole is the single most impressive hole in
the planet. The underwater sinkhole is located just off of the coast in Belize,
and is 1,000 feet across and over 400 feet deep. It was formed by a limestone
cave sometime in the previous ice age.
Bingham Canyon Mine
The Bingham Canyon Mine, located in the Oquirrh mountains of
Utah, is nearly .75 miles deep, 2.5 miles wide, and is the largest man-made
excavation to have ever been constructed in the entire world.
Monticello Dam
The Monticello Dam is located in Napa County, California,
US, and is notable because of the huge circular spillway that drains 48,400
cubic feet of water every single second of the day. California could have used
that water recently.
Kimberley Diamond Mine
The Kimberley Diamond Mine, found within South Africa, is
simply known as the Big Hole, and is considered one of the largest hand-dug
holes in the entire world. Nearly 50,000 miners spent around 50 years with
nothing more than picks and shovels to find 2,722 kg worth of diamonds.
Darvaza Gas Crater
Back in 1971, geologists found a huge underground deposit of
natural gases, which became known as the Darvaza Gas Crater. A drilling rig
collapsed, leaving a enormous hole in the ground. The hole was allowed to burn
nonstop to avoid the horrible gases being released. It is burning to this day.
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