Five of the World’s Largest Sinkholes That Surpass the Height of Taipei 101

By MOOK Scenic Spots / Jun(e), compiled and reported

A sinkhole is a unique spatial and structural feature with immense volume, surrounded by steep, enclosed rock walls, and characterized by deep, well-like or barrel-shaped contours. These formations occur in particularly thick and deep groundwater soluble rock layers, with an average width and depth both exceeding 100 meters. They are connected to underground rivers at the bottom or show evidence of past underground waterways. This type of massive karst landform is classified by depth and width: those between 100 to 300 meters are considered standard sinkholes; those between 300 to 500 meters are large sinkholes, with about 16 worldwide, nine of which are in China; and those over 500 meters are super sinkholes. There are five super sinkholes globally, three of which are in China — Chongqing Xiaozhai Tiankeng, Guangxi Leye Dashiwei Tiankeng, and Guangxi Bama Hualong Tiankeng.

1. China – Chongqing Xiaozhai Tiankeng

Chongqing’s Xiaozhai Tiankeng reaches a depth of 662 meters, making it the world’s largest sinkhole. It is also a living fossil of the formation of the Yangtze River Three Gorges and serves as an important example of the Earth’s Quaternary evolutionary history.

2. China – Guangxi Leye Dashiwei Tiankeng

Guangxi’s Dashiwei Tiankeng is 613 meters deep, covering an area of nearly 17 hectares, with a forested area at the bottom spanning 10.5 hectares. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking, ever-changing scenery from the pit’s edge throughout the seasons.

3. Croatia – Crveno Jezero (Red Lake)

Croatia’s Red Lake is 530 meters deep, with the lake itself being 280 to 290 meters deep. The surrounding cliffs contain high levels of iron oxide, giving the water a coffee-like hue with reddish tones, hence the name Red Lake.

4. Papua New Guinea – Minye Tiankeng

Located on New Britain Island in Papua New Guinea, this area features natural landscapes such as volcanoes and limestone mountains. The Minye Tiankeng is 510 meters deep and was formed through long-term erosion by underground rivers and heavy rainfall, leading to the collapse of surface limestone layers.

5. China – Guangxi Bama Hualong Tiankeng

The Hualong Tiankeng reaches a depth of 509 meters and is located in Bama County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

China is home to numerous spectacular sinkholes. To date, approximately 80 confirmed sinkholes exist worldwide, with over 50 located in China — most concentrated in the karst regions of the south. Each super sinkhole plunges deeper than the height of Taipei 101, showcasing the awe-inspiring wonders crafted by nature and representing must-see geological marvels in a lifetime.