Xiaozhai Tiankeng

The Xiaozhai Tiankeng, also known as the Heavenly Pit, is an awe-inspiring natural wonder located in Fengjie County of Chongqing Municipality, China. As the world's deepest sinkhole, it plunges approximately 662 meters (2,172 feet) with a floor area over 119,349 square meters. The colossal dimensions of this sinkhole, with a length of 626 meters and a width ranging from 511 meters to a staggering 797 meters, make it a geological marvel.

Discovered in 1994 during a series of expeditions to the region, Xiaozhai Tiankeng is part of a larger karst landscape that includes numerous caves, natural bridges, and other sinkholes. The tiankeng itself was formed over millennia as water eroded the limestone bedrock, eventually causing the land surface to collapse and expose the underground caverns.

Visitors to Xiaozhai Tiankeng can marvel at its sheer size and the unique ecosystem it harbors. Due to its depth and isolated environment, the sinkhole supports a diverse range of plant and animal life, some of which are rare or endemic to the area. The descent into the tiankeng is an adventure in itself, with a series of staircases allowing intrepid explorers to venture into its depths.