Well of Barhout
Map showing the location of Well of Barhout
Map showing the location of Well of Barhout
LocationAl-Mahara, Yemen
Coordinates17°20′25″N 52°26′38″E / 17.34028°N 52.44389°E / 17.34028; 52.44389
Depth112 m (367 ft)

The Well of Barhout (also nicknamed Well of Hell) is a sink hole in Al-Mahara, Yemen. It has a circular entrance that measures about 30 m (100 ft) wide at the surface, and it is 112 metres (367 ft) deep.

Physical features

The opening at the top of the Well of Barhout measures 30 metres (98 ft) across, while the bottom of the sinkhole widens to 120 metres (380 ft). The sinkhole is 112 metres (367 ft) deep and passes through two layers of rock. The top layer is around 61 metres (200 ft) in thickness. The top layer is porous and permeable and thus allows water to filter down to the second layer which is less permeable, where it flows into the sinkhole, creating four waterfalls each measuring 46 metres (150 ft) in height.[1]

Exploration

It was first explored by the Oman Cave Exploration Team (OCET), who reached the bottom on 15 September 2021. Footage provided to Agence France-Presse (AFP) showed cave formations such as stalagmites and grey and lime-green cave pearls, formed by dripping water.[2][3] The speleologists also report having found snakes, dead animals, and waterfalls in the cave.

Amateur cave explorers have entered the sinkhole before, but until now nobody was known to have made it all the way to the bottom.[4][5] Samples of the rocks, soil, water, and dead birds found in the cave were collected for further analysis. A full report of the team's findings will be made available to the public.[6]

Folklore

Local folklore says the cave was created as a prison for jinn, and superstition has it that objects near the hole can be sucked towards it. Some nearby residents think that it is bad luck to even talk about it.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sarah Durn (20 October 2021). "The History and Mystery of Yemen's 'Well of Hell'". Atlas Obscura.
  2. ↑ "Cavers find snakes but no genies: Yemen's mysterious 'Well of Hell'". AFP. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  3. ↑ Sara Santora (24 Sep 2021). "First Known Full Descent Into Sinkhole Called 'Well of Hell' Leads to Strange Discoveries". Newsweek.
  4. 1 2 "Danger and demons: Yemen's mysterious 'Well of Hell'". Phys.org. 21 Jun 2021.
  5. ↑ Harry Baker (24 Sep 2021). "Cavers discover snakes and waterfalls inside Yemen's infamous 'Well of Hell' in world-first descent". Live Science.
  6. ↑ Monica Danielle (24 Sep 2021). "Explorers become 1st ever to reach bottom of mysterious 'Well of Hell'". AccuWeather.


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