When Giant Sink Holes Attack.

When Giant Sink Holes Attack.

A sinkhole is a natural depression or hole in the Earth's surface which may have various causes. Some are caused by karst processes—for example, the chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks or suffosion processes in sandstone. Others are formed as a result of the collapse of old mine workings close to the surface. Because of the terrifying speed with which they sometimes appear, sink holes have been known to take lives, vehicles and even buildings with them to the bottom of the earth.

Sinkholes may vary in size from 1 to 600 m (3.3 to 2,000 ft) both in diameter and depth, and vary in form from soil-lined bowls to bedrock-edged chasms. Sinkholes may be formed gradually or suddenly, and are found worldwide.

Sinkholes have been used for centuries as disposal sites for various forms of waste. A consequence of this is the pollution of groundwater resources, with serious health implications in such areas. The Maya civilization sometimes used sinkholes in the Yucatán Peninsula as places to deposit precious items and human sacrifices.