Ancient forest found at bottom of huge sinkhole in China

Ancient forest found at bottom of huge sinkhole in China

An ancient forest has been found at the bottom of a giant sinkhole in China, with trees up to 40 metres tall, Qazet.az reports according to China media.

Scientists believe it could contain undiscovered plant and animal species.

Cave explorers in the Guangxi region of southern China alerted scientists when they found the sinkhole, which had a primitive forest inside. Among 30 sinkholes in Leye County this is the largest, at 306 metres long, 150 metres wide and 192 metres deep.

Zhang Yuanhai, a senior engineer at the Institute of Karst Geology of the China Geological Survey, told the state news agency Xinhua that the site had three caves in its walls and a well-preserved primitive.

Chen Lixin, who led the expedition team, said that as well as the trees there was dense undergrowth on the floor that came up to his shoulders.

“I wouldn’t be surprised to know that there are species found in these caves that have never been reported or described by science until now,” he said.