Turkmenistan's Gates of Hell is a gas crater that has been burning since a Soviet drilling operation went awry in 1971. Getty Images
Turkmenistan's Gates of Hell is a gas crater that has been burning since a Soviet drilling operation went awry in 1971. Getty Images
Aerial view of two giant holes in a road caused by the collapse of a drainage system due to heavy rains in Villa Nueva, 15 km south of Guatemala City. AFP
Aerial view of two giant holes in a road caused by the collapse of a drainage system due to heavy rains in Villa Nueva, 15 km south of Guatemala City. AFP
A huge sinkhole at a junction in Fukuoka, Japan. Workers managed to fill it up in a few days in 2016. Reuters
A huge sinkhole at a junction in Fukuoka, Japan. Workers managed to fill it up in a few days in 2016. Reuters
The Great Blue Hole in Belize was formed from an eroded limestone cave in the last ice age, and later flooded as the sea level rose. Getty Images
The Great Blue Hole in Belize was formed from an eroded limestone cave in the last ice age, and later flooded as the sea level rose. Getty Images
The Well of Barhout in Yemen is known for its pungent odours. AFP
The Well of Barhout in Yemen is known for its pungent odours. AFP
A giant sinkhole caused by tropical storm Agatha appeared in Guatemala City in 2010. Reuters
A giant sinkhole caused by tropical storm Agatha appeared in Guatemala City in 2010. Reuters
Two cars fell in a sinkhole in Harbin, China, in 2018. Reuters
Two cars fell in a sinkhole in Harbin, China, in 2018. Reuters
A cliff diver leaps 26 metres down into the Ik Kil cenote in Yucatan, Mexico. Getty Images
A cliff diver leaps 26 metres down into the Ik Kil cenote in Yucatan, Mexico. Getty Images
Dean's Blue Hole in the Bahamas is the world's second deepest sinkhole, at 202 metres. Photo: Wikimedia
Dean's Blue Hole in the Bahamas is the world's second deepest sinkhole, at 202 metres. Photo: Wikimedia
The Dead Sea is home to many sinkholes, such as this one that formed in a car park in Israel in 2020.
The Dead Sea is home to many sinkholes, such as this one that formed in a car park in Israel in 2020.
Geology Professor Fetullah Arik takes measurements next to a large sinkhole in Karapinar, Turkey. Getty Images
Geology Professor Fetullah Arik takes measurements next to a large sinkhole in Karapinar, Turkey. Getty Images
One of the rare blue holes located in the waters of Al Dhafra region in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. About 12 metres deep, the underwater sinkhole is home to grouper, jackfish and corals. The perimeter of the Al Dhafra Blue Hole is approximately 300 meters long and 200 meters wide, encompassing a total area of around 45,000 square metres. Photo: Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD)
One of the rare blue holes located in the waters of Al Dhafra region in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. About 12 metres deep, the underwater sinkhole is home to grouper, jackfish and corals. The perimeter of the Al Dhafra Blue Hole is approximately 300 meters long and 200 meters wide, encompassing a total area of around 45,000 square metres. Photo: Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD)
A tennis court-sized depression at a copper mine in Copiapo, Chile. Reuters
A tennis court-sized depression at a copper mine in Copiapo, Chile. Reuters
The Sheeheet sinkhole in Oman's Dhofar region near the city of Taqah on July 25, 2025. AFP
The Sheeheet sinkhole in Oman's Dhofar region near the city of Taqah on July 25, 2025. AFP

News

The world's most spectacular sinkholes, from Turkmenistan's Gates of Hell to Oman's Tawi Atair

Many are marvels of nature, but some are man-made where development compromises the underlying rock it has been built on

Stephen Nelmes

August 12, 2025

  • English
  • Arabic

An enormous sinkhole, about 32 metres wide and twice as deep, appeared near a copper mine in Chile, leading experts to investigate what caused it.

So what leads to these great holes in the earth?

Many are marvels of nature. According to National Geographic, natural sinkholes appear when soft underground rock under land is easily dissolved — usually by running water or rain.

Man-made sinkholes are typically found in urban centres, where development including buildings and roads compromises the underlying rock it had been built on.

According to the US Geological Survey, trapped rainwater plays its part. Sinkholes cased by rain are common in East Asia and can be deadly.

Geologists say it is hard to predict when the top layer of rock will collapse. The USGS estimates that sinkholes caused $300 million of damage a year in the US, but that figure could be higher.

UAE finds a sinkhole

In 2021, a blue hole was discovered off the coast of Abu Dhabi in the Arabian Gulf which measured around 12 metres deep and 2,000 metres wide.

The rare underwater sinkhole was found just off Al Dhafra but it pales in size to the deepest blue hole, Dragon Hole, which lies in the South China Sea and reaches around 300 metres beneath the seabed.

Oman's lush green sinkholes

Shrouded in fog, the enormous Tawi Atair sinkhole is one of four that dot Dhofar governorate in southern Oman

Tawi Atair means “Well of Birds” in Dhofar's regional language, a reference to the avian twittering, distorted by echoes, that reverberates off the rock.

Now the sinkholes are marketed as a tourist attraction in Dhofar.

Yemen's 'Well of Hell'

The Oman sinkholes are not to be confused with the “Well of Hell”, or Well of Barhout, the foul-smelling, pitch-black Barhout pit across the border in eastern Yemen that is reputed as a prison for demons.

The giant hole in the desert of Al Mahra province is 30 metres wide and thought to be anywhere between 100 and 250 metres deep.

Take a look at some of the most spectacular sinkholes in the photo gallery above by clicking on the arrows. If using a mobile device, simply swipe. Learn more about some of the sinkholes mentioned in The National stories below.

The world's most spectacular sinkholes

  • Gates of Hell - Turkmenistan
  • Fukoaka - Japan
  • The Great Blue Hole - Belize
  • The Well of Barhout - Yemen
  • 2010 Guatemala City sinkhole - Guatemala
  • Harbin - China
  • Ik Kil cenote - Mexico
  • Deep Blue Hole - Bahamas
  • 2020 Dead Sea sinkhole - Israel
  • Copiapo sinkhole - Chile
  • Sheehet sinkhole - Oman

Further reading

A version of this story was first published in August 2022

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TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

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Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Updated: August 12, 2025, 10:33 AM
EnvironmentMexicoOmanYemen