14 DAY TRIAL // Several decades ago, in 1957, geologists found evidence that diamonds were lurking in the ground in a remote part of Siberia. More precisely, they came across traces of a rock, i.e. kimberlite, known to contain such precious stones.
Soon enough, mining companies took an interest in the region where the kimberlite traces were discovered, and workers got busy excavating the ground. They kept digging for 54 years and created a freakishly massive hole.
This hole, a photo of which is available next to this article, measures about 525 meters (about 1,722 feet) in depth and 1.2 kilometers (roughly 0.74 miles) in width. It is so big that folks in Siberia refer to it as Earth's navel.
According to New Scientist, this massive hole is responsible for creating unusual airflow in the area. As a result, helicopters appear to be drawn towards the mine. Hoping to prevent accidents, authorities saw fit to close the air space above it.
While operational, this mine in Siberia coughed up about 10 million carats (2 tonnes) of diamonds on a yearly basis. It was so productive that an entire town, dubbed Mirny, sprang out around it. Despite the fact that the mine is now closed, about 3,600 people still live right next to it.
As impressive of this hole might be, the fact of the matter is that it is not the biggest of its kind. Thus, the largest excavated hole ever sits in Utah, US, and measures 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) in depth and 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) in width.