Sinkholes around Merthyr Tydfil

Here are a couple of typical sinkholes found in the landscape above Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, UK. Such features are typical of karstic regions (such as that found in the Brecon Beacons) and often suggest the presence of caves in the vicinity.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Caves
• sinkhole
• Merthyr
• Tydfil
• Brecon
• Beacons

[1verstreate1]

@muttlutt Sinkholes can be caused by lots of things. THis video says limestone. Salt can also cause it, when water dissolves salt caches and leaves a hollow dome for the earth to collapse into. So I think if a mine was big enough, it could probaby cause one upon collapse. Even busted water pipes can cause small sinkholes by erroding the dirt and creating a cavity under the surface.

[Taffnp]

Stinkholes round Merfa :)

[muttlutt]

I always thought they were caused by the old disused coal mining tunnels caving in and the effect on the surface

[Niiauyr]

This was interesting. I had wondered how those got there, always thought they were filled in shafts.

[bailsko27]

finally an answer! when i was a kid we would go camping on these hills and we would always discuss how those holes got there my mate thought that they had come from bomber planes during the war getting rid of their load we used to come up with all types of things but i havent thought about it for years im glad i saw this

[jabdeans]

I understand that fully but can the diagnosis of sinkhole being attributed to those massive holes found recently in central america?

[163mojo]

Hmmm interesting. Thank you for sharing.