How do sinkholes swallow entire houses and cities - Elise Cutts
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Date: 2025-09-28
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Comments and reviews: 19
hcm9999
There is a vast network of rivers and lakes underground, as water flows according to gravity.
River and lakes form on the surface only if the ground is impermeable.
Otherwise water will sink into the ground until it reaches an impermeable stratum.
The water will then flow horizontally forming underground rivers and lakes.
So underground there is always a vast network of caves and tunnels carved by the flow of water.
A sinkhole forms when the ceiling of one of these caves or tunnels collapses due to excess of water.
The excess of water may be caused by human activity.
When humans build cities and roads, they may interfere with the natural rivers and lakes, destroying the normal flow of water.
With fewer options for water to flow, it puts pressure on the remaining rivers.
Because most rivers are underground, they become bigger, until they collapse, creating sinkholes.
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There is a vast network of rivers and lakes underground, as water flows according to gravity.
River and lakes form on the surface only if the ground is impermeable.
Otherwise water will sink into the ground until it reaches an impermeable stratum.
The water will then flow horizontally forming underground rivers and lakes.
So underground there is always a vast network of caves and tunnels carved by the flow of water.
A sinkhole forms when the ceiling of one of these caves or tunnels collapses due to excess of water.
The excess of water may be caused by human activity.
When humans build cities and roads, they may interfere with the natural rivers and lakes, destroying the normal flow of water.
With fewer options for water to flow, it puts pressure on the remaining rivers.
Because most rivers are underground, they become bigger, until they collapse, creating sinkholes.
reply
tec-jones5445
Fun fact about the cenote sinkholes! In the Yucatan, there is a distinctive Ring of Cenotes, where they form a clear arc that continues in a circle out to sea, up to 200 kilometers across in diameter! The karst limestone needed to form them looks to be pushed out of the way, as there's barely any cenotes inside the ring, but they are common and random outside.
The ring is dated to 66 million years ago, with impact sphericles that only form in meteor sites inside. The entire ring is the rim or trough of the Chixculub Crater, formed by the asteroid that wiped out the non-bird dinosaurs!
So these cenotes aren't only natural wonders and spiritual places, but they are also the healed scars of one of Earth's greatest extinctions!
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Fun fact about the cenote sinkholes! In the Yucatan, there is a distinctive Ring of Cenotes, where they form a clear arc that continues in a circle out to sea, up to 200 kilometers across in diameter! The karst limestone needed to form them looks to be pushed out of the way, as there's barely any cenotes inside the ring, but they are common and random outside.
The ring is dated to 66 million years ago, with impact sphericles that only form in meteor sites inside. The entire ring is the rim or trough of the Chixculub Crater, formed by the asteroid that wiped out the non-bird dinosaurs!
So these cenotes aren't only natural wonders and spiritual places, but they are also the healed scars of one of Earth's greatest extinctions!
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Joseserrano-m9y4g
Pension is a game changer and we have to multiply it. Have a 27 year military pension, VA disability compensation and my wife will have a Federal Employee Pension when she retires. Im pretty certain that we will have more money than we need.
We are sitting on about $1M in our portfolio, but my compensation alone is about $9. 2k per month and its inflation protected. We still invest $75k a year simply because we can. Investing 50k wouldn't change how we live so no need to change.
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Pension is a game changer and we have to multiply it. Have a 27 year military pension, VA disability compensation and my wife will have a Federal Employee Pension when she retires. Im pretty certain that we will have more money than we need.
We are sitting on about $1M in our portfolio, but my compensation alone is about $9. 2k per month and its inflation protected. We still invest $75k a year simply because we can. Investing 50k wouldn't change how we live so no need to change.
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Codexionyx101
One of the most infamous sinkholes in the world is the Darvaza Gas Crater in Turkmenistan. It formed in 1971 when oil drillers inadvertently tried to drill over a massive pocket of natural gas. The pocket collapsed, allowing large amounts of gas to escape into the environment. To keep the gas from poisoning the area around it, engineers lit the gas on fire and let it burn itself off. The crater is still burning to this day.
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One of the most infamous sinkholes in the world is the Darvaza Gas Crater in Turkmenistan. It formed in 1971 when oil drillers inadvertently tried to drill over a massive pocket of natural gas. The pocket collapsed, allowing large amounts of gas to escape into the environment. To keep the gas from poisoning the area around it, engineers lit the gas on fire and let it burn itself off. The crater is still burning to this day.
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Mario87456
In Florida where I live they are especially infamous for being a problem, one man in a house sleeping on a bed fell down a sink hole and was never seen again, the whole was covered up but then it reopened again at least several years later though this time no one disappeared. (Also Ted ED climate change which doesn’t exist has NOTHING to do with sinkholes)
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In Florida where I live they are especially infamous for being a problem, one man in a house sleeping on a bed fell down a sink hole and was never seen again, the whole was covered up but then it reopened again at least several years later though this time no one disappeared. (Also Ted ED climate change which doesn’t exist has NOTHING to do with sinkholes)
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nonamesleft136
In 2025, I learned that sinkholes are a real thing. Had my old cesspool removed and a new septic tank installed. Had the ground suddenly drop three times, including one 4' deep, 4' wide hole. When crews dig deep and disturb the earth, make sure they drive over it completely with heavy equipment to pack it back down.
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In 2025, I learned that sinkholes are a real thing. Had my old cesspool removed and a new septic tank installed. Had the ground suddenly drop three times, including one 4' deep, 4' wide hole. When crews dig deep and disturb the earth, make sure they drive over it completely with heavy equipment to pack it back down.
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Queen1001N
Sinkhole model you can do at home:
Put some sand in a cup. Take a spoonful of sugar and place it on the sand. Surround the sugar with more sand until it is completely covered. Pour some water in the cup. The water will dissolve the sugar creating a cavity causing the sand to collapse.
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Sinkhole model you can do at home:
Put some sand in a cup. Take a spoonful of sugar and place it on the sand. Surround the sugar with more sand until it is completely covered. Pour some water in the cup. The water will dissolve the sugar creating a cavity causing the sand to collapse.
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aureusphoenix
It's kind'o strange. I've never seen a sinkhole in Germany. Nor do I remember one ever hitting the news (in the 30 years I am old enough to read/watch them. Do have different soil Or are we simply more diligent when constructing new roads/buildings Or am I simply very forgetful
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It's kind'o strange. I've never seen a sinkhole in Germany. Nor do I remember one ever hitting the news (in the 30 years I am old enough to read/watch them. Do have different soil Or are we simply more diligent when constructing new roads/buildings Or am I simply very forgetful
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turtle360
I had a geology lesson about them during building engineering school. You should have shown how it looks like just before happening. There are signs for non-rigid grounds and talking about this without mentionning how to recognize clues when you can is just anxiety bait.
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I had a geology lesson about them during building engineering school. You should have shown how it looks like just before happening. There are signs for non-rigid grounds and talking about this without mentionning how to recognize clues when you can is just anxiety bait.
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ZennExile
Sinkholes always made perfect sense. It's making me scared for humanity that this needs explaining. But you know what's real crazy The holes where everything explodes out, instead of falls in. Where's my TED-Ed on whatever the hekn those are
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Sinkholes always made perfect sense. It's making me scared for humanity that this needs explaining. But you know what's real crazy The holes where everything explodes out, instead of falls in. Where's my TED-Ed on whatever the hekn those are
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Kayla-eh5fb
I never knew sinkholes were real until a man went on the news for being in his bed and a sinkhole swallowing him up. The fact that it happened so unexpectedly and he was never found just creeps me out.
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I never knew sinkholes were real until a man went on the news for being in his bed and a sinkhole swallowing him up. The fact that it happened so unexpectedly and he was never found just creeps me out.
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sahibjotathwal8198
Please do History vs Sant Bhindranwale Ji video one of the most misunderstood and vilified historical figures during the 20th century in the early 70s and 80s
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Please do History vs Sant Bhindranwale Ji video one of the most misunderstood and vilified historical figures during the 20th century in the early 70s and 80s
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BrandonWegner-k5h
In Canada Sechelt BC abandoned sinkhole homes. 14 mansions evacuated from sinkholes. Massive fraud and legal issues. Sucks buts crazy
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In Canada Sechelt BC abandoned sinkhole homes. 14 mansions evacuated from sinkholes. Massive fraud and legal issues. Sucks buts crazy
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icy-hearted-angel
This video is very well done! Would love to see more like this. The animation is great and the info is clear, concise, and simple.
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This video is very well done! Would love to see more like this. The animation is great and the info is clear, concise, and simple.
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ted_ed
6 days after posting this episode, a 50-meter-deep sinkhole swallowed an area thats about 900 meter square wide in Thailand. Terrifying.
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6 days after posting this episode, a 50-meter-deep sinkhole swallowed an area thats about 900 meter square wide in Thailand. Terrifying.
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J1P2K
We can get a sinkhole where I live due to being on top of an abandoned mine.
But most of the time, we just get mine subsidence.
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We can get a sinkhole where I live due to being on top of an abandoned mine.
But most of the time, we just get mine subsidence.
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cinemanuggets24
Very timely video. After the recent incident in Mexico city I have been asking myself how tf did the sinkhole materialise
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Very timely video. After the recent incident in Mexico city I have been asking myself how tf did the sinkhole materialise
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SaeedKorean
Many people don’t realize recovery is possible if you act fast. Always keep your transaction details and evidence safe
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Many people don’t realize recovery is possible if you act fast. Always keep your transaction details and evidence safe
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ted_ed
Subtly mentioning climate change in a video about sinkholes. that's what I like to call mandatory political propaganda.
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Subtly mentioning climate change in a video about sinkholes. that's what I like to call mandatory political propaganda.
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