Sima Humboldt
Encyclopedia
Sima Humboldt is an enormous sinkhole
located on the summit of the plateau of Sarisariñama
tepui
in Bolívar State, Venezuela
. It is unusual for several reasons, including its enormous size and depth, its location on the top of the only forested tepui
, having a patch of forest on its base and also due to the rare quartzite
weathering process that formed this sinkhole. The feature is named after scientist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt
.
Together with the neighbouring Sima Martel
it was first spotted in 1961 by pilot Harry Gibson .
The sinkhole was descended for the first time in 1974 and more thoroughly explored in 1976. Its volume is 18000000 cubic metres (635,663,991.8 cu ft) whilst the maximum width at its upper rim is 352 metres (1,154.9 ft) and 502 metres (1,647 ft) below .
Only 700 metres from the rim of Sima Humboldt there is another enormous sinkhole - Sima Martel
. In total there are four quartzite caves on Sarisariñama.
Sinkhole
A sinkhole, also known as a sink, shake hole, swallow hole, swallet, doline or cenote, is a natural depression or hole in the Earth's surface caused by karst processes — the chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks or suffosion processes for example in sandstone...
located on the summit of the plateau of Sarisariñama
Sarisariñama
The Sarisariñama tepui is a mountain in the Jaua-Sarisariñama National Park at the far south-west of Bolívar State, Venezuela, near the border with Brazil. Altitude: 300 - 2,350 metres. The name of the mountain originates from the tale of local Ye'kuana Indians about an evil spirit living in caves...
tepui
Tepui
A tepui , or tepuy, is a table-top mountain or mesa found in the Guiana Highlands of South America, especially in Venezuela. The word tepui means "house of the gods" in the native tongue of the Pemon, the indigenous people who inhabit the Gran Sabana....
in Bolívar State, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. It is unusual for several reasons, including its enormous size and depth, its location on the top of the only forested tepui
Tepui
A tepui , or tepuy, is a table-top mountain or mesa found in the Guiana Highlands of South America, especially in Venezuela. The word tepui means "house of the gods" in the native tongue of the Pemon, the indigenous people who inhabit the Gran Sabana....
, having a patch of forest on its base and also due to the rare quartzite
Quartzite
Quartzite is a hard metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts. Pure quartzite is usually white to gray, though quartzites often occur in various shades of pink...
weathering process that formed this sinkhole. The feature is named after scientist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt
Alexander von Humboldt
Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Alexander Freiherr von Humboldt was a German naturalist and explorer, and the younger brother of the Prussian minister, philosopher and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt...
.
Together with the neighbouring Sima Martel
Sima Martel
Sima Martel is an enormous sinkhole located on the summit of plateau of Sarisariñama tepui, in Bolívar State, Venezuela. It is unusual due to several factors including its enormous size and depth, location on the top of the only forested tepui and having a patch of forest on its base and also due...
it was first spotted in 1961 by pilot Harry Gibson .
The sinkhole was descended for the first time in 1974 and more thoroughly explored in 1976. Its volume is 18000000 cubic metres (635,663,991.8 cu ft) whilst the maximum width at its upper rim is 352 metres (1,154.9 ft) and 502 metres (1,647 ft) below .
Only 700 metres from the rim of Sima Humboldt there is another enormous sinkhole - Sima Martel
Sima Martel
Sima Martel is an enormous sinkhole located on the summit of plateau of Sarisariñama tepui, in Bolívar State, Venezuela. It is unusual due to several factors including its enormous size and depth, location on the top of the only forested tepui and having a patch of forest on its base and also due...
. In total there are four quartzite caves on Sarisariñama.