The Heavenly Pit
In the mountains of China lies the world's deepest sinkhole, over 600 metres deep, with its own forest at the bottom.
What was reported
The Xiaozhai Tiankeng, 'little village heavenly pit', in Fengjie County, Chongqing, is the deepest known sinkhole in the world, about 660 metres deep and more than 500 metres across, with sheer limestone walls. At the bottom is a forest, and an underground river runs through caves below it.
It was surveyed by a British and Chinese caving expedition in 1994. A long stairway takes visitors part of the way down.
Explanations offered
It formed as the underground river dissolved the limestone, carving a huge cave whose roof eventually collapsed. Rare plants and animals live in the sheltered conditions at the bottom. Many other giant sinkholes have since been found in southern China.
- When
- Surveyed in 1994
- Where
- Fengjie, Chongqing, China
- Witnesses
- Cavers and villagers
- Status
- Explained
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.