Deep inside a sinkhole in China’s Leye-Fengshan Global Geopark, 630 feet below the surface, scientists have found a huge old forest.
Better sit tight before seeing what’s inside!
UNESCO describes the area as having caves and the longest natural bridge in the world. It is in China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
On its website, UNESCO says, “The UNESCO Global Geopark is primarily sedimentary with more than 60 percent of 3000m thick Devonian to Permian carbonate rocks.”
“It forms an ‘S’-shaped structure and a rhombus configuration in the karst areas of Leye and Fengshan counties respectively, which controlled two large subterranean rivers’ development, the Bailang and Poyue.”
“In addition, between these two subterranean rivers the Buliuhe River was formed. Around these rivers, it formed numerous karst geosites including high karst peak clusters (fengcong), poljes, karst springs, karst windows (tiankengs), natural bridges, extensive caves, massive cave chambers and speleothems.”
“It also features fault zones, minor folds, giant panda fossils, a Neogene stratigraphic section and other fossils.
“The UNESCO Global Geopark clearly displays the developmental stages of tiankengs and high fengcong karst. It contains the world’s most beautiful karst windows, the highest density of tiankengs and largest cave chambers known in the world and the world’s longest natural bridges.”
Karst is a type of land where the soil can break down, causing sinkholes from erosion from above or below the surface.
In May 2022, scientists found a new sinkhole in the park. It is more than 1,000 feet long, 490 feet wide, and almost 630 feet deep.
Many old trees and plants live in this sinkhole. Some of them may be types that haven’t been found before.
Scientists have found three cave openings inside the huge area, which is 1,004 feet long and 492 feet wide.
According to Chen Lixin, the leader of the expedition, “It wouldn’t surprise me if we find species in these caves that science hasn’t yet documented.”
He said that some of the trees in the bush were very tall—more than 130 feet.
They also talked to George Veni, who is in charge of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute.
