<strong>A hole in the ground:</strong> The Musfur sinkhole is said to be the deepest accessible sinkhole to have been discovered in Qatar.
A hole in the ground: The Musfur sinkhole is said to be the deepest accessible sinkhole to have been discovered in Qatar.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Easy access: </strong>The huge chasm is located less than an hour's drive west of Doha, right off the main Salwa Road.
Easy access: The huge chasm is located less than an hour's drive west of Doha, right off the main Salwa Road.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Into the darkness: </strong>The light from the entrance gradually dwindles as you descend toward the bottom.
Into the darkness: The light from the entrance gradually dwindles as you descend toward the bottom.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Cool spot: </strong>Even on hot days, a pleasant breeze flows through the hole's limestone and gypsum layers.
Cool spot: Even on hot days, a pleasant breeze flows through the hole's limestone and gypsum layers.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Sinkhole origins:</strong> Sinkholes are a typical feature of karst topography, a product of slightly acidic water acting on soluble bedrock such as limestone.
Sinkhole origins: Sinkholes are a typical feature of karst topography, a product of slightly acidic water acting on soluble bedrock such as limestone.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Turning back the clock: </strong>"It's like you're going back in geological time; seeing in present time how the water was circulating and creating holes in the bedrock," says Aspa D. Chatziefthimiou, a senior ecologist and talks coordinator at Qatar Natural History Group.
Turning back the clock: "It's like you're going back in geological time; seeing in present time how the water was circulating and creating holes in the bedrock," says Aspa D. Chatziefthimiou, a senior ecologist and talks coordinator at Qatar Natural History Group.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Bird spotting: </strong>While there's no plant life inside the chasm, birds can often be seen.
Bird spotting: While there's no plant life inside the chasm, birds can often be seen.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Thousands of years: </strong>Scientists says most of central Qatar's karst landscape was formed due to extensive subsurface dissolution of carbonate and sulfate deposits some 325,000-560,000 years ago.
Thousands of years: Scientists says most of central Qatar's karst landscape was formed due to extensive subsurface dissolution of carbonate and sulfate deposits some 325,000-560,000 years ago.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Wet conditions: </strong>The Middle Pleistocene era, when the landscape was created, would have seen wet conditions and subsidence, say experts.
Wet conditions: The Middle Pleistocene era, when the landscape was created, would have seen wet conditions and subsidence, say experts.
Dimitris Sideridis
<strong>Take care:</strong> A fence surrounds the Musfur sinkhole. Visitors are advised to be cautious when clambering on its rugged slopes.
Take care: A fence surrounds the Musfur sinkhole. Visitors are advised to be cautious when clambering on its rugged slopes.
Dimitris Sideridis