A group of Chinese scientists from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region made an exciting discovery last year – a massive sinkhole. They are now considering the potential that this newly discovered hole could be a habitat for undiscovered species.
Chinese scientists have discovered new and previously unknown animal species inside a massive sinkhole located in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China. The impressive 630-foot-deep sinkhole contains an ancient forest, which was found by the scientists last year. A team of cave explorers discovered this enormous karst sinkhole in Leye County.
According to Zhang Yuanhai, a senior engineer at the Institute of Karst Geology, the sinkhole near Ping’e village in Luoxi township is even more fascinating than initially thought. In addition to being 306 meters long and 150 meters wide, it contains three cave entrances and ancient trees that are 40 meters tall. The sinkhole’s volume is estimated to be over five million cubic meters.
It has recently been stated that the caves have the potential to harbor animals that have never been discovered by humans. Yuanhai expressed his belief that there may be species residing in the caves that are unprecedented and yet to be identified by scientific research.
While not providing specifics on the nature of these caves or any upcoming exploration endeavors, the speaker elaborated on the three significant cavities in the wall. He asserted that they are remnants of the initial stages of sinkhole evolution. Additionally, he highlighted that the sinkhole’s base contains a preserved primitive forest with trees rising from the ground and thick foliage reaching up to shoulder level.
Tiankeng, which translates to “heavenly pit” in Chinese, are enormous sinkholes that possess unique geological characteristics and occur due to repeated cave-ins in karst regions. These dolines are primarily present in China, Mexico, and Papua New Guinea. The scientists have previously identified a multitude of sinkholes in Shaanxi province and a group of interconnected ones in Guangxi.
According to George Veni, who holds the position of executive director at the National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI) in the United States, caves and sinkholes provide shelter to various life forms while also serving as pathways to aquifers – underground water stores. It is worth mentioning here that NCKRI is affiliated with the China Geological Survey.
Karst aquifers serve as the singular or main water source for 700 million individuals across the globe. However, they are susceptible to contamination and depletion due to their accessibility. Karst aquifers are the only type of aquifer that can be contaminated with solid waste. According to an expert, who has personally observed it, car batteries, car bodies, barrels, and bottles of unknown substances have been extracted from the active cave stream.
