A newly formed sink hole in the Northern Cape on Mount Carmel farm along the R31 between Daniëlskuil and Kuruman has intrigued cavers from around the country – and with good reason. The cave, which was formed about two weeks ago following heavy downpours in the area, was recently explored for the first time in history, revealing a underworld wonderland.
What lies beneath the surface, however, has been established to be also much larger that what the crack appears from from the outside. The definition of a sink hole is described as a cavity in the ground, especially in a limestone formation, caused by water erosion and providing a route for surface water to disappear underground – with some ascribing this to soil erosion due to underground waters. When a second depression close to the road (R31) was recorded last Thursday, 12 January, the road was permanently closed by the Department of Roads & Public Works.
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