There is a huge ancient forest world discovered 630 feet down a sinkhole in a Chinese geopark.
Scientists found the astounding void inside Leye-Fengshan Global Geopark.
The park sits in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China.
UNESCO describes the site as a “territory of caves and of the world’s longest natural bridge.”
“The UNESCO Global Geopark is primarily sedimentary with more than 60 percent of 3000m thick Devonian to Permian carbonate rocks,” the UNESCO site states.
“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 terrain forms when dissolving bedrock creates holes and sinkholes.
Experts located the latest sinkhole in May 2022.
They measured it at just over 1,000 feet long, about 490 feet wide and nearly 630 feet deep.
The void holds a preserved ancient forest and may shelter species unknown to science.
Scientists found three cave entrances inside the 1,004-foot long and 492-foot wide chamber.
Expedition leader Chen Lixin told Live Science: “I wouldn’t be surprised to know that there are species found in these caves that have never been reported or described by science until now.”
Chen added some trees there reached nearly 130 feet tall.
George Veni, executive director of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute, said karst varies widely by region.
He explained: “In China you have this incredibly visually spectacular karst with enormous sinkholes and giant cave entrances and so forth.”
“In other parts of the world you walk out on the karst and you really don’t notice anything. Sinkholes might be quite subdued, only a meter or two in diameter.
“Cave entrances might be very small, so you have to squeeze your way into them.”
Veni said southern China‘s vast karst makes dramatic sinkholes and caves common there.
He described how slightly acidic rainwater dissolves bedrock to create tunnels and voids.
Rainwater picks up carbon dioxide in soil, grows more acidic, then flows through rock cracks and hollows them out.
When cavities grow large enough, ceilings can collapse and form a sinkhole.
This discovery marks the 30th sinkhole found in the region.
China is also home to the world’s largest sinkhole, the Xiaozhai Tiankeng.
That sinkhole measures 2,100 feet deep, 2,000 feet long and 1,760 feet wide.
Its volume is about 130 million cubic meters and it contains a waterfall within.
Local guides call it a tiankeng, meaning “The Heavenly Pit.”
It supports over 1,200 species of plants and animals.
Researchers believe the newly explored sinkhole may hold previously unknown plants and animals.