What is a sinkhole and how does it form?
Earth's Hungry Mouth
What is a sinkhole and how does it form?
Imagine walking down the street when suddenly — whoosh! — the ground opens up like a trapdoor, swallowing cars, trees, even whole buildings. It sounds like a monster movie, but it's real. They're called sinkholes, and they happen because something sneaky is going on underground.
Most ground seems solid, but underneath your feet there's often rock — and not all rock is created equal. Some rocks, like limestone, are made from ancient seashells and coral that piled up millions of years ago. Limestone is tough enough to hold up a house, but it has one weakness: it dissolves in water, like a sugar cube in tea.
