Sinkholes are common where the rock below the land surface is limestone or other carbonate rock, salt beds or rocks that can naturally be dissolved by circulating ground water. As the rock dissolves, spaces and caverns develop underground. Sinkholes may vary in size from 1 to 600 meters both in diameter and depth.
Sinkholes can also be devastating. They can swallow anything, big or small. But this one in Oman has become a tourist attraction. While similar holes engulf residential streets or open up in front of despairing home owners, the Bimmah sinkhole has long been attracting tourists eager for a picturesque swim.
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| Stunning: A concrete stairway leads to the base of the picturesque Bimmah sinkhole in Oman, which is several times more beautiful than many others of its type |
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| Taking a dip: A number of tourists have a swim in the emerald-tinted waters in Bayt al-Afreet, Oman where the Bimmah sinkhole is found |
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| Inviting: Sinkholes like the stunning one in Oman are formed when groundwater travels through easily-dissolved rock |
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| Scenic: The sinkhole in Oman boasts the kind of clear waters and dramatic cliff faces normally seen on holiday postcards |
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| Tranquil: A passer-by stops to take in the unusual view at the Bimmah sinkhole between Qurayat and Sur in Oman
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