For over billion years of Earth’s existence (according to geologists), nature has created many massive holes. And in search for mineral wealth, man has also dug up enormous open pits. These spectacular holes have become the most astounding sites in the world.
The following list includes 10 of the most eye-catching natural and man-made holes around the world.
#1. Bingham Canyon Mine – Utah, USA
The world’s largest man-made excavation with a depth of 0.75 mile (1.2 km) and a width of 2.5 miles (4 km).
#2. Chuquicamata Copper Mine – Chile
This may not be the largest copper mine but it has largest total production of copper in the world.
#3. Diavik Diamond Mine – Canada
Every year, this mine produces about 8 million carats (about 1,600 kg) of diamonds.
#4. Darvaza Gas Crater (The Door To Hell)- Turkmenistan
This 60 meters wide and 20 meters deep massive hole was created in 1971 when geologists accidentally tapped into a massive underground natural gas cavern causing the the drilling rig to collapse. To prevent the poisonous gas from escaping, they decided to light it on fire allowing it to continuously burn since then until now.
#5. Great Blue Hole – Belize
This underwater sinkhole is 400 feet deep and 1,000 feet wide.
#6. Sinkhole – Guatemala
This 300 foot deep sinkhole caused by heavy rains and an underground sewage flow have swallowed dozens of homes in Guatemala.
#7. Kimberley Diamond Mine – South Africa
The home of the world’s largest diamond mine.
#8. Mirny Diamond Mine – Russia
This abandoned mine was the first and one of the largest diamond Pipes in the USSR. It 525m in depth and 1200m in width.
#9. Monticello Dam Spillway – Napa County, California, USA
Known as the ‘Morning Glory Spillway’ or the ‘Glory Hole’, this large circular spillway swallows water at a rate of 48,800 cubic feet per second.
#10. Udachnaya Pipe Diamond Mine – Russia
This open-pit mine is a diamond deposit in Russia. It is the third deepest open-pit mine in the world with a depth of more than 600m (1,970 ft).
