Top 10 Amazing Holes In The Earth
Published on September 21, 2008 - 97 Comments
In man’s search for mineral wealth, many enormous holes have been dug. In addition, nature occasionally produces some astounding holes. This list is a pick of the ten most spectacular natural or manmade holes in the face of the earth. Many thanks to rushfan for sending in the images for this list. Click the images for a larger view.
Chuquicamata is an open pit copper mine in Chile. It is the mine with the largest total production of copper in the world - though it is not the largest copper mine. The mine is over 850 meters deep.
The Udachnaya Pipe is a diamond mine in Russia. The owners of the mine plan to cease its operations in 2010 - in favor of underground mining. The mine was discovered in 1955 and is over 600 meters deep.
In 2007, a 300 foot deep sinkhole swallowed a dozen homes in Guatemala - killing 2 and causing thousands to be evacuated. The sinkhole was caused by rains and an underground sewage flow.
The Diavik Mine is a mine in the Northwest territories of Canada. The mine (opened in 2003) produces 8 million carats or about 1,600 kg (3,500 lb) of diamonds every year.
The Mirny Diamond Mine is 525m deep and has a diameter of 1200m. It was the first, and one of the largest, diamond Pipes in the USSR. It is now abandoned. While it was still operational, it would take two hours for trucks to drive from the top to the bottom of the mine.
The Great Blue Hole is an underwater sinkhole off the coast of Belize. The hole is 1,000 feet across and 400 feet deep. It was formed as a limestone cave during the last iceage.
The Bingham Canyon Mine is a copper mine in the Oquirrh mountains, Utah. The mine is 0.75 mile (1.2 km) deep, 2.5 miles (4 km) wide. It is the world’s largest manmade excavation.
The Monticello Dam is a dam in Napa County, California, United States most noted for its large circular spillway with a rate of 48,400 cubic feet per second.
The Kimberley Diamond Mine (also known as the Big Hole) holds the (disputed) title of being the largest hand-dug hole in the world. From 1866 to 1914 50,000 miners dug the hole with picks and shovels, yielding 2,722 kg of diamonds. Attempts are being made to have it registered as a world heritage site.
In 1971, geologists discovered a massive underground deposit of natural gas on this site. Whilst excavating the hole to tap the gas, the drilling rig collapsed leaving a massive hole. To prevent poisonous gasses from escaping, the hole was allowed to burn. It continues to burn to this day and has done so without ceasing. You can see a video clip of it burning here.
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1. xdarkhorsex - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:02 am
WHOO HOOO!!! FIRST FIRST
I’d like to thank the academy, my mother and Jesus for giving me this opportunity. Jamie for providing the forum for lists….
>cue music
2. kiki - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:12 am
oooh second..i would like to thank myself for being bored and surfing this site just in time to make this incredibly creative comment.
fascinating list! cool pics!
3. Sgt. Batguano - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:13 am
xdarkhorsex is under investigation for performance enhancers.
Also…great list.
4. Denzell - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:14 am
Yay me 2nd! Really amazing list, Jamie! Really amazing for a non-geeky dude!
5. nubyw00tz - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:15 am
I love the sound that #1 makes. Cool list.
6. Denzell - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:20 am
oh, not me! I’m 4th!
7. beff - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:22 am
i would love to be able to see any of these in real life. the name of the list is pretty funny though….i could think of a few people who would fit under that name.
i want to jump into the dam…that looks neat
8. Spart - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:23 am
What about the Super Pit??
Check it out in Kalgoorlie West Australia
www1.superpit.com.au
9. Denzell - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:23 am
When I viewed this page only one comment was posted…
10. emmstein - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:25 am
Kimberley (Diamond Mine) has some bush near the hole.
Anyone who giggles is a perv and will be tazed.
11. Matt Howard - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:34 am
The Great Blue Hole in Belize REALLY needs to be used as a James Bond villain’s super secret lair:P
12. knight_forked - September 22nd, 2008 at 4:16 am
Cool list! emmstein@10:
beff, I think some of the biggest ones yet are in senate.
13. storm_shadow - September 22nd, 2008 at 4:18 am
That is pretty amazing. But it’s also a bit sad because it’s a reminder of how much we like to destroy the earth.
14. Jack Deth - September 22nd, 2008 at 4:45 am
A great list, I love to see the gas pit in Turkmenistan, Yagsheemesh!
15. JUNQUEMAN - September 22nd, 2008 at 4:56 am
Interesting, but this list/series of pix has been floating around the internet for a couple of years now. Surprised someone hasn’t spotted this before me. Oh well, keep on keeping on.
16. deepthinker - September 22nd, 2008 at 5:28 am
Great Monday list! The pics are amazing.
17. dischuker - September 22nd, 2008 at 5:47 am
haven’t we already had a list like this?
18. Lethal Pixi - September 22nd, 2008 at 6:18 am
I liked this list and the photos were awesome!!
19. dustin - September 22nd, 2008 at 6:22 am
no Paris Hilton?
20. astraya - September 22nd, 2008 at 6:32 am
It’s hard to be sure, but very few of these seem to have fences around them!
21. Brickhouse - September 22nd, 2008 at 7:44 am
Holy list of holes, Batman!
22. Dawn Bearer - September 22nd, 2008 at 7:49 am
Wicked!
#1 reminds me of the movie Silent Hill.
23. disco.x - September 22nd, 2008 at 7:54 am
What about the Barringer crater?
or does that not count…
Great and beautiful list btw =]
24. DoppHopper - September 22nd, 2008 at 8:02 am
Me and some mates dug a big hole once. Why does one always come across shoes and boots and cuplery?
25. Johnny - September 22nd, 2008 at 8:28 am
What gets bigger the more you take out of it?
26. FallenMorgan - September 22nd, 2008 at 8:41 am
#3 looks like what happens when you divide by zero.
27. fromthefuture - September 22nd, 2008 at 8:42 am
what about that cave in Mexico that people base jump from?
28. A - September 22nd, 2008 at 8:56 am
Great List! =)
29. Blogball - September 22nd, 2008 at 9:29 am
There are so many holes in this list that it’s not even funny. Number 3 reminds me of Journey to the Center of the Earth. Speaking of which why didn’t that hole make the list?
Seriously, this is really an interesting and original list.
30. Cedestra - September 22nd, 2008 at 9:50 am
9. Denzell: Doesn’t matter anyway- it’s against site rules and your post(s) will probably be deleted. So will there’s.
Great list! I was worried for a sec because I’ve seen lists like this online before, but I believe this is an original list. Like the pictures, although there are others of the Great Blue Hole that show how udderly random it is.
31. JayBe - September 22nd, 2008 at 9:51 am
wow!
really amazing. Most of them even incredible (7,5,2 and 1 seems science fiction).
Maybe you missed Kola Superdeep Borehole. A little more of information could be great, but wiki is there to heal up that.
great list
JB
32. ImplosiveFire - September 22nd, 2008 at 10:06 am
Mel’s hole maybe?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel%27s_Hole
http://turbo.peteronline.net/melshole/
33. smurff - September 22nd, 2008 at 10:18 am
Good list nice images, but Im sure I wrote a wee line or two about the Kimberly Hole a few months back, when you had a similar list going.
34. Kadaj - September 22nd, 2008 at 10:22 am
fromthefuture: Yep, it is called “Sótano de las golondrinas” and its one of the deepest natural natural abyss on earth. Look at it, i found a video in english: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2bqxZs0iCc.
I think that you missed a lot of good stuff in this list. One is that one that i already mentioned, other one is the “Sotano del barro” also in mexico (another of the deepest caves in the world) , The Barringer Crater (who doesnt love craters??) , The money pit at oak island (last buried treasure) , the Kola Superdeep Borehole (deepest man-made hole), the Challenger abyss (in the pacific ocean), Qattara depression (largest natural sinkhole on earth), Sarisarinama Holes in Venezuela.
Man you really needed to do a bit more of investigation, this list needed a little bit more of info and photos, easily reaching 15 items or more, instead of ten. Its just a regular list right now…
35. Malfore - September 22nd, 2008 at 10:37 am
That burning hole is wicked
36. TheOnlySaneOne - September 22nd, 2008 at 11:07 am
Those are some sweet pictures. Nice creative list.
37. psychosurfer - September 22nd, 2008 at 11:29 am
Instead of so many mines I would have included at least one of these:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenote
Some of them are amazing specially the Sacred Cenote.
38. MarK - September 22nd, 2008 at 11:56 am
no joke.. I was seriously expecting goatse to be no1… yehh the internet has ruined me
39. jfrater - September 22nd, 2008 at 12:07 pm
The reason for excluding the Kola superdeep borehole was that the borehole is not an amazing hole to look at from above ground. I should have been clearer in the intro
40. JayArr - September 22nd, 2008 at 12:12 pm
A dozen homes in a sinkhole (#8) that small…ouchie! #5 reminds me of an eyeball. Perdy!
Hmmm… I can’t believe you did not add the Berkley Pit to the list! The Berkeley Pit is a former open pit copper mine located in Butte, Montana (USA). The pit is approximately 1.5 miles wide and over 1/3 mile deep. Due in part to toxic/contaminated water currently filling 900+ feet of the pit, the Berkley Pit has become one of the United States’ largest ’superfund’ clean-up sites ever.
41. copperdragon - September 22nd, 2008 at 12:12 pm
what about craters from meteor strikes?
Meteor Crater in Arizona
Yucatan crater in Mexico
and there’s another one in Canada.
all natural and large enough to make the list (though not very spectacular)
42. copperdragon - September 22nd, 2008 at 12:21 pm
here is wiki’s list of impact craters on Earth
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L.....s_on_Earth
43. Randall - September 22nd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
copperdragon:
Good suggestion, I thought of those myself… though in fact, when you think about it, they ARE pretty spectacular. And there are many more than four… the globe is in fact covered with them, though most, like Chixulub, are now indistinguishable, due to erosion and continental drift.
44. thuss - September 22nd, 2008 at 12:31 pm
that is one of the best lists i this site, i would rate this site at least 9 out of 10. it is verry interest ing to be hionest.
45. segue - September 22nd, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Another rushfan goodie!
And yes, of course there are a lot of holes that didn’t make the list, but c’mon guys, “So many holes, so few spaces!”.
There are more underground fires, too, that just keep on burning year after year, but the Darvaza Gas Crater is truly spectacular because you can see it.
Anyway rushie, great job.
Can’t wait to see what ya got next!
46. postman - September 22nd, 2008 at 12:39 pm
And there was me thinking that I lived in the biggest hole in the world:).
47. stewart - September 22nd, 2008 at 1:16 pm
1. xdarkhorsex
Heh heh that was the best comment I have seen at no.1
48. stewart - September 22nd, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Diavik Mine – Totally amazing but I would be worried working there!
Great Blue Hole – There are aliens down there!!
Monticello Dam – That’s just plain scary. I wonder if any of the maintenance works have gone missing.
Darvaza Gas Crater – Sponsored by BIC lighters – France!
49. Johny - September 22nd, 2008 at 2:05 pm
what?! no paris hilton?! this list is incomplete!
50. billyrules! - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:11 pm
you can’t help but wonder how often people fall into these.
51. segue - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:16 pm
50. billyrules! Maybe it’s just me, but I think you’d see them before you had a chance to fall in.
52. Diogenes - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
It was way back in the year of 1987 when “The Cosby-Jello Hole Bill” ALMOST got passed and made into LAW. Citizen Bill Cosby stood before Congress in the winter of that year and gave a most electrifying speech that nearly warmed the entire room to its core, but The House was naturally divided. One side wanted flavors that represented the states in some way and another side wanted to charge by the spoonful…but Citizen Cosby stood his ground. The Holes would be filled with Jello FOR THE CHILDREN and BY THE CHILDREN and the consumer would pay an “all you can eat” fee.
The flavor would be a NEW ONE that was then being developed by the Jello Corporation speciffically for the future possibility of “The Cosby-Jello Hole Law”. Transluscent to the eye and with the taste of emptyness. Various “launchers” would be constructed around the holes, giving “thrill riders” a view of the wide blue yonder….for a moment any how–before plumeting into The Vast Jello Bellow. Special “Black Hole” nylon jumpsuits would be provided for return ethusiasts who dared the higher free falls from the “Outer to Inner Experience” (a joint operation with Virgin Space Corp).
Believe it or not. The President of the United States, being a Jello and big hole lover, came close to giving his “official smooch” of approval.
But long story short:
Kids today dont know what to do with all their energy and the Bill did not become Law.
and Bill went back to his Jello comercials on TV, but something had changed in him
The Wikipedia Infomation on “The Cosby-Jello Hole Bill” has unfortunately been removed.
By Citizen Cosby’s Request (some say out of shame, others say out of continual grief)
53. mike - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:19 pm
there is only ONE rational explanation for number 1 on this list. satan was bored and decided to light his fart on fire.
54. Riya B. - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Awesom list! After I saw number one’s photo and description, I’m beginning to wonder what’ll happen if someone fell into that hole….
55. dime138 - September 22nd, 2008 at 3:48 pm
For some reason #3 freaked me out. I can’t look at the picture without shuddering.
56. Clantargh - September 22nd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Well if natural holes are being included what about the Grand Canyon?
57. Johandus Maximus - September 22nd, 2008 at 6:34 pm
If the planned expansion of BHP’s Olympic Dam Mine in South Australia goes ahead it should easily make this list. Here are some figures:
http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb.....;sn=Detail
As an engineer, the scale of what they’re planning is just mind boggling. As a South Australian resident though, I’m not convinced this state has the resources to get it off the ground. Time will tell I guess
58. yuri - September 22nd, 2008 at 7:02 pm
imho holes ruin the view. incredible list though.
it’s my first time to comment. been lurking here a while though.
59. yuri - September 22nd, 2008 at 7:15 pm
^ too many “though” in my previous post. heehee
it’s amazing about the 2 hour drive from the top of the hole to the bottom.
60. Megan - September 22nd, 2008 at 11:00 pm
My dad worked for the Diavik diamond mine!! he operated a jumbo in the underground.
61. Long Nick - September 22nd, 2008 at 11:15 pm
I would say Natalie Portman should be number 1.
62. jfrater - September 22nd, 2008 at 11:33 pm
Hey everyone - sorry for not commenting before now - I am very sick with a stomach virus. I will be back to normal tomorrow hopefully.
63. croat - September 22nd, 2008 at 11:34 pm
what about Red Lake in Croatia which is 582m deep? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crveno_Jezero
64. Anon - September 23rd, 2008 at 12:11 am
Viva Chile!
Back in the Davis Cup finals grouping again this weekend (beat Oz), and now Chuquicamata on LV too. I have to cut in here on account of Anita (my wife) happening to be born at the border with Bolivia nearby while her dad was stationed at Chuqui (he was a copper mine supervisor). It’s often one of the sightseeing stop-offs in Atacama desert tours. Must get there myself one of these days.
65. kris - September 23rd, 2008 at 7:40 am
OH My God!!! that is real nice list & so informative… I wonder how could men climb back into the surface
66. heavybison - September 23rd, 2008 at 9:06 am
Stomach virus eh? Have you been eating too many lobsters?
67. gezzanater - September 23rd, 2008 at 3:00 pm
You left Adelaide, that is Australia’s biggest hole, followed closely by Canberra.
68. k1w1taxi - September 23rd, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Some amazing holes on the list. Thanks Jamie.
That Monticello spillway is just so freaky looking.
Googling a few others I found the following about Diavik. The Capital Cost of the Mine is $1.3 Billion, so I sure hope there are a lot of Diamonds there
Also found this pic of I think Mirny from a different angle which is if anything even more amazing.
http://pixdaus.com/single.php?id=8388
Cheers
Lee
69. rodrigo - September 23rd, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Yeah chile in the top 10!!!!!
Chuquicamata is awesome
70. SamBam - September 23rd, 2008 at 8:02 pm
@ Ember
Yes you can have depth vertigo, I learned about it during my diving certification.
71. Ember - September 23rd, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Can you have depth vertigo? If so I have it when looking at the picture of the Great Blue Hole. Great List though.
72. Ana - September 23rd, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Awww I always feel proud when Chile get’s mentioned
73. Tyree - September 23rd, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Good, but I think I’ve already read this. Was it like…plagiarized from something, by any chance?
74. Anderi - September 23rd, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Should’ve called this the “Top 10 Amazing KNOWN Holes”…
Because there’s a of huge one on Mars that would push #8 and #3 off the list!
http://www.marsanomalyresearch.....k-hole.htm
Hmmm, that would make only 9… Maybe we could add that “Goatse” guy!! XD
75. jfrater - September 23rd, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Tyree: no - it is not plagiarized from something - though 7 of the images were sent in by a reader. I added the text and found 3 additional images.
76. Tyree - September 23rd, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Okay, sorry. I wasn’t trying to offend or anything, it just seemed very familiar.
77. jfrater - September 23rd, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Anderi: the only problem with that is that holes on Mars are not “holes in the Earth”.
78. Anderi - September 23rd, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Ah! But Mr Frater, that’s why I said “Top 10 Amazing Known Holes” and didn’t specify the planet…
Maybe I should’ve added “-In The Solar System”?… ;p
79. astraya - September 23rd, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Courtney Love and her band.
80. Nope - September 23rd, 2008 at 11:19 pm
did you know that the holes only natural enemy is the pile?
81. JayBe - September 24th, 2008 at 6:17 am
74. Anderi:
That’s freaking, while I won finish to swallow camming from that web. Can you link those images from NASA or any scientific source instead?
82. rubysp - September 24th, 2008 at 8:13 am
*shiver*
For some reason looking at these images strike deep mortal fear in me. The thought of falling in through the dark or swallowed into #3…*shudder*
Fabulous list!
83. Crêpe - September 24th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Wow, really interesting. 5 creeped me out though.
84. Johandus Maximus - September 24th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
After reading this list for the second time, I have only one thing to add:
Hol(e)y Moley!
85. iolanthe_duville - September 24th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
imagine falling into one of those holes…like #5…
86. Vera Lynn - September 25th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Great list! Lots of fun
beff (8)Yeah, I can name a few also.
Emmstein (10) I did giggle. That was funny. Taze me!
mark (38)That’s too funny!
mike (53) Hysterical!! Laughed out loud
87. CRSN - September 26th, 2008 at 1:02 am
67 Gezz - nice to see we’re on the same page with those “shit holes”.
is it me, or am i noticing exerpts from previous hole lists, i thought one of my ex’s should be on there
88. Diogenes’s double - September 26th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Oh Dis
Why u bother #52
dont u know your a has been?
a want not?
a deep hole among land fairing mudder lubers?
Oh Diogenes, my friend, my fair lad within
keep it to yourself and give no more
care not what happens herewithin
tis not the worrisome bother
the hole is a lack of and an abysmal twilightzone hourglass
yet, like a void absence pulling
a fathom into dangerous desires and a connection to the core.
89. donut - September 26th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Another amazing hole in the earth is the Berkely Pit in Butte, MT
Great list though.
90. Drogo - September 27th, 2008 at 5:11 am
This is a nice noncontroversial list. You could say it’s hole-some.
(hole-some/wholesome)
91. Suskis - October 8th, 2008 at 2:43 am
Darvaza Gas Crater is really hard to spot on Google Earth. But if you turn on the “night vision” you can see its light in the middle of nowhere! (that place is called Hell’s door!)
92. Freemont - November 8th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
What about your mom’s holes?
I didn’t read all the comments, so I wonder how many times that joke has been made.
93. CRSN - November 9th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
Freemont - i’d say your the first to make that comment, unlike you we have respect for each other and our families.