earthTripper

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What Caused This 1.2km Wide Giant Hole?

You’d be forgiven for thinking that this giant chasm was caused by a meteor or a natural sink hole but this incredible cavity is actually an abandoned diamond mine in Mirny, Eastern Siberia, Russia. Diamonds were first discovered at the site in 1955 and the mine was started just two years later. The incredibly harsh conditions of the Siberian winter meant that mining the frozen ground was incredibly difficult and life was extremely tough for the miners and their families. After four decades of excavation, the mine was finally abandoned in 2004, leaving behind an eerily empty town and a giant abyss.