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=== Sinkholes ===
=== Sinkholes ===
[[File:Thor's Well (37588682016).jpg|250px|border|right|thumb|Thor's Well: a sinkhole on the coast of Cape Perpetua, Oregon]]
[[File:December_Giant_sinkhole_collapse_USGS_1972.jpg|right|250px|thumb|More than three acres of forest suddenly disappeared into the "Golly Hole" or "December Giant" sinkhole in Montevallo, Alabama, USA. (wiki)]]
* sinkholes are holes or caves in the ground caused by erosion or a collapse of a lower, below-ground surface, usually because of water drainage
* sinkholes are holes or caves in the ground caused by erosion or a collapse of a lower, below-ground surface, usually because of water drainage
* sinkholes may also be caused by a drainage of water, such as a water table decline
* sinkholes may also be caused by a drainage of water, such as a water table decline
* sinkholes are most common where limestone, sandstone, salt beds, or gypsum are prevalent
* sinkholes are most common where limestone, sandstone, salt beds, or gypsum are prevalent
[[File:Thor's Well (37588682016).jpg|250px|border|right|thumb|Thor's Well: a sinkhole on the coast of Cape Perpetua, Oregon]]
* Thor's Well
* Thor's Well
** a sinkhole on the coast of Cape Perpetua, Oregon, that drains at high tides
** a sinkhole on the coast of Cape Perpetua, Oregon, that drains at high tides
[[File:December Giant sinkhole collapse USGS 1972.jpg|right|250px|thumb|More than three acres of forest suddenly disappeared into the "Golly Hole" or "December Giant" sinkhole in Montevallo, Alabama, USA. (wiki)]]
* Golly Hole in Shelby County is considered the largest sinkhole in the US.  
* Golly Hole in Shelby County is considered the largest sinkhole in the US.  
** also known as the "December Giant," it formed in 1972 after water drainage at a nearby quarry,  
** also known as the "December Giant," it formed in 1972 after water drainage at a nearby quarry,  
** it is 325 ft long, 300 ft wide, and 120 ft deep
** it is 325 ft long, 300 ft wide, and 120 ft deep
* source: [[https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-largest-sinkhole-united-states?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products What is the largest sinkhole in the United States? (usgs.gov)]]
* source: [[https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-largest-sinkhole-united-states?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products What is the largest sinkhole in the United States? (usgs.gov)]]
* See
* See also
** [[https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/science/sinkholes?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects SinkHoles (USGS.gov)]]
** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinkhole Sinkhole (wiki)]]
** [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinkhole Sinkhole (wiki)]]