In many communities, this practice, in addition to being harmful to the environment, is illegal [source: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection]. But there are some people to whom finding a new supply of water is vitally important. Lie on your back and extend your arms straight, directly above your shoulders. If you're concerned about damage to gas, electric, water, or sewer lines, contact the appropriate utility company. When several sinkholes come together to form a larger basin or hole, the new formation is known as a poljen. A sinkhole, also known as a cenote, sink, sink-hole, shakehole, swallet, swallow hole, or doline (the different terms for sinkholes are often used interchangeably), is a depression or hole in the ground caused by some form of collapse of the surface layer. The land above a sinkhole often appears normal until a critical amount below has been washed away. Some states haveextensive online information about sinkholes, including a place to report them. 2007. Debris carried into the developing sinkhole may plug the outflow, ponding water and creating wetlands. The sinkhole swallowed several cars, oil drilling equipment, and oil tanks. Eventually groundwater emerges back A huge amount of water exists in the ground below your feet, and people all over the world make great use of it. Below are news stories associated with sinkholes and land subsidence. So it was in 1994, when one of these stacks collapsed into a 150-foot (46-meter) deep sinkhole. Below are other science topics associated with sinkholes and land subsidence. Sinkholes rarely happen, but when they strike, tragedy can occur. Sinkholes vary from shallow holes about 1 meter (3 feet) deep, to pits more than 50 meters (165 feet) deep. Flooding looms as a particular concern when it comes to sinkholes. Sinkhole - Solving Drainage and Erosion Problems | Northern Virginia More than 850 sites of sinkhole dev. Groundwater is one of our most valuable resourceseven though you probably never see it or even realize it is there. Potash is an important ingredient in many fertilizers. How Long Does It Take For A Sinkhole To Form Theblogy.com Like all sinkholes, the one in Guatamala City formed when a swath of land collapsed, leaving behind a crater-like depression in the ground. Sinkholes occurring near outside walls or under outdoor staircases usually develop because the soil along the structure was poorly compacted. Namely, in some underground voids, water could actually be holding up some thin overhang of the earth. National Geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036. The deeper the hole and the steeper the walls are, the greater the danger of collapse. Collapse of the sinkhole walls can lead to injury or death.
how do sinkholes form step by step