No I’m not referring to the Grand Canyon here.  Hell I’m not even referring to Christy Canyon, although she was very close to making this list.  Earth has some amazing phenomenons.  Some come from the efforts of man, and some come from the efforts of nature.  Either way, they are a marvel to look at.

Whether the holes are used to mine diamonds and copper, or they are simply located in the ocean where boats drive across without even thinking twice, these freakishly large things are rare in this world.

Here are 10 huge holes you might not have known about

Chuquicamata, Chile

While I don’t want to have to write that word again, this hole is an open pit copper mine.  While it’s not the largest copper pit in the world, it produces the most.  It’s over 2788 feet deep.

Udachnaya Pipe, Russia

This is a diamond mine in Russia which is actually set to stop operations in 2010.  It’s 1968 feet deep.

Sinkhole, Guatemala

Probably one of the largest sinkholes in all of the world, this thing actually killed two people and caused thousands to evacuate the city.  It’s over 300 feet deep.

Diavak Mine, Canada

This is a diamond mine that produces 3500 lbs of diamonds every year.

Mirny Diamond Mine, Siberia

This is one of the first and largest diamond pipes in the USSR.  It’s now abandoned but back in the days when it was operating, it would take two hours for trucks to reach the bottom. It’s 1722 feet deep.

Great Blue Hole, Belize

This is an underwater sinkhole off the coast of Belize.  It’s over 1000 feet across and 400 feet deep.  It would scare the crap out of me crossing it.

Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah

This is a copper mine and is considered the world’s largest manmade excavation.  It’s 2.5 miles wide and 3937 feet deep.

Monticello Dam, California

This is located in the Napa Valley of California.  This thing is crazy.  Water spills at a ridiculous rate of 48,400 cubic feet per second.

Kimberly Diamond Mine, South Africa

This is considered by some to be the longest hand-dug hole in the world.

Darvaza Gas Crater, Turmenistan

In 1971, geologists discovered a massive underground deposit of natural gas on this site.  While excavating the hole to tap the gas, the drilling rig collapsed leaving a massive hole. To prevent poisonous gasses from escaping, the hole was allowed to burn. It continues to burn to this day and has done so without ceasing.

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