A sinkhole is a depression or hole in the ground caused by some form of collapse of the surface layer.

Sinkholes are most common in what geologists call, “ karst terrain.” These are regions where the types of rock below the land surface can naturally be dissolved by groundwater circulating through them.

Mar 12, 2025 · Get sinkhole facts in geology. Learn about the different types of sinkholes, how they form, and how to repair or escape from one.

Dec 15, 2025 · Sinkholes are depressions that form when the underlying limestone bedrock is eroded or dissolved by groundwater.

Dec 4, 2024 · The search has revived national concern about the unpredictability of sinkholes. Here's what you should know about sinkholes, how they're created and where they can happen.

Mar 9, 2025 · Sinkholes are sudden depressions or holes that appear on the Earth's surface when the ground collapses causing significant damage to infrastructure and serious risks to human safety.

Jul 3, 2024 · Sinkholes vary from shallow holes about one-meter (three-feet) deep, to pits more than 50 meters (165 feet) deep. Water can drain through a sinkhole into an underground channel or a cave.

This article explains what sinkholes are, why they are dangerous, and how to detect them before they form.

Dec 14, 2025 · Sinkholes are increasingly turning ordinary streets into danger zones. And the cost of ignoring them is skyrocketing. Each year, sinkholes swallow roads, homes and businesses around …

Most sinkholes occur in places where water can dissolve the rock below the surface, for example where the bedrock is limestone, salt, or gypsum. They can collapse very quickly, or slump slowly over time. …