Photos: Amazing Sinkholes Around The World

Scenic Cenote, Cenote Dzitnup is also located in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Underground, freshwater-filled sinkholes with openings shinning through at the top like this one are known as cenotes in Mexico and Central America.

Sinkholes can be very dangerous because they could destroy roads, vehicles, bulidings and houses. But when it happens away from buildings and roads, it could turn out be nice and beautiful places after a long time. The pictures below were taken by Live Science about beautiful sinkholes. Hope you’ll enjoy them!

(Please click the photos below for larger images)

Swallow Holes, Sinkholes, also known as shake holes or swallow holes, occur when water seeps into solid bedrock and erodes it to the point that an underground cavity forms. When this cavity collapses, it forms a crater-like depression. Sinkholes occur all over the world — in jungles as well as cities — and can appear suddenly or gradually. The Bimmah Sinkhole, above, is located on the coast of Oman, an Arab state in the Arabian Peninsula.

The Devil’s Hole. Yet another sinkhole with a demonic name, the Devil’s Hole in Hawthorne, Fla., is about 100 feet (30 meters) deep. It’s also known as the Devil’s sink and is a popular spot for locals and even has a rope swing and two jumping platforms. Originally the site of a limestone dig, the sinkhole has an underwater entrance leading to a cave system that few divers dare to explore.

The Sinkhole of Red Lake, Located in the city of Imotski, Croatia, the Red Lake is named for the reddish-brown color of the iron oxides in its surrounding cliffs. The pit, which has become a lake, is lined with nearly vertical walls. As one of the largest sinkholes in the world, it is about 1,700 feet (530 m) deep.

Twin Sinkholes, The photographer snapped this aerial photo of the Melchor de Mencos sinkholes while flying over Petén, in the northern part of Guatemala. These twin cenotes are located near Lake Macanche and are surrounded by a thick rain forest.

Bimmah Sinkhole, The Bimmah Sinkhole is near Dibab village in Oman, an Arab state in the Arabian Peninsula. A winding stone staircase leads down to the sinkhole, which is a beautiful aquamarine and emerald color, with the darker green hues resulting from algae growth in the water.

Mount Gambier Sinkhole, This massive sinkhole is located in Mount Gambier, South Australia, and was formed by acidic groundwater eroding the area’s porous limestone. The region contains many water-filled caves and sinkholes, but the Mount Gambier sinkhole has become an Australian landmark, and was even turned into a beautiful recreational garden for the general public and tourists.