Road Construction

State of the art science is still undecided when Sinkholes are at the center of discussion. The only proven consistency is inconsistency. Prior to 2010, these earth-swallowing mysteries were relatively uncommon. Fast forward eight years to present day and the average discovery of a new sinkhole is once every 24 hours. They range in size from small enough to go unnoticed to the largest on record, located in Egypt, measuring 50 miles (80km) long and 75 miles (120km) wide.

This hole is a drawing I did on A4 paper with a 6B graphite, a No.2 pencil and two colored pencils:

Numerous studies surround these often fatal openings in the earths surface. In Guatemala, scientists believe a combination of corroded sewage systems and volcanic activity are responsible for creating a sinkhole that killed five people in 2007 and another that killed 15 people in 2010.

In the United States, Florida is home to more sinkholes than any other state in the country and nearby Arkansas is home to the largest holes in the country. In Tennessee, It’s been over five years since sinkholes needed backfilled and today those holes are reopening, proving to be larger than originally documented and substantially difficult to manage.

In the North Siberian region of Russia, the giant holes that continue to open have been doing so at an accelerated rate. Russia’s frozen province, called permafrost, is steadily thawing. It’s theorized the change in earth’s orbit is the cause for such dramatic temperature changes, consequently causing these holes to emerge. Scientists estimate 130 thousand years since similar temperature changes occurred on the earths surface.

As sinkholes continue developing around us, so do an equal amount of theories. Theories won’t make them disappear nor will a communal lack of concern.