The ground beneath your feet is slowly dissolving into nothing
In short: From Florida suburbs to the Siberian wilderness, sinkholes are a growing global hazard. This documentary explores why the earth suddenly gives way, turning stable land into hollow voids in an instant.
Sinkholes occur where water-soluble rocks, such as limestone, underpin the soil. When carbon dioxide from the atmosphere dissolves into rainwater, it creates a weak acid that eats away at these soft rocks, creating cavities similar to Swiss cheese. Such environmental risks appear either slowly, via the sinking of land into basin-like hollows, or abruptly, during total soil failure.
The consequences of these collapses are diverse and often catastrophic. The film documents instances where sinkholes have swallowed highways, apartment buildings, horses, camels, and even people. By following scientists who investigate these underlying forces, NOVA examines the mechanics of how our world can vanish beneath our feet.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: When the Earth Swallows You Whole | Full Documentary | NOVA | PBS
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