Strange sinkhole with no human footprints in the middle of Quang Tri special-use forest

Đỉnh hố sụt hình chữ C với vách đá dựng đứng, bên dưới có nhiều cây xanh - Ảnh: NGUYỄN HOÀNG — The top of the C-shaped sinkhole has a steep cliff, with many trees below - Photo: NGUYEN HOANG

The sinkhole, discovered through satellite imagery a long time ago, is located in Huong Son commune, Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province, within the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve, and has only recently been visited by humans.

First human footprints found in sinkhole

More than two years ago, the Quang Tri Discovery team (Dong Ha City) discovered this sinkhole through satellite imagery. Based on that, following a suggestion from a reporter of Tuoi Tre Online newspaper, the Management Board of the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve, in coordination with the Huong Hoa forest rangers, organized an expedition to explore this sinkhole on June 29th and 30th.

From the final point in Tria village (Huong Son commune), the expedition team spent 1.5 hours walking along the stream to reach the campsite.

From here, the group spent nearly 5 hours climbing uphill through the forest to reach the sinkhole.

Vách đá dựng đứng của hố sụt nhìn từ dưới lên - Ảnh: HOÀNG TÁO — The steep cliff of the sinkhole seen from below - Photo: HOANG TAO

Mr. Nguyen Tan Hieu, deputy director of the Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve Management Board, confirmed that this was the first expedition team to set foot in this sinkhole. "Before this, the reserve had never known about the existence of this sinkhole. Even the forest rangers and local people had never set foot here," Mr. Hieu said.

The sinkhole is located at an altitude of nearly 800 meters above sea level. The top of the sinkhole is C-shaped, a sheer cliff over 100 meters high. The apex of the cliff juts outwards, forming a frog-like mouth below. Many small green plants have taken root and are growing on the cliff.

Opposite this "C" shape is a collapsed, steep section. The expedition team followed this steep section to enter the sinkhole. Along the way into the sinkhole, the team discovered many cave entrances and pits, but lacked the time and equipment to explore them.

Nhóm khám phá ra hố sụt - Ảnh: HOÀNG TÁO — The team that discovered the sinkhole - Photo: HOANG TAO

The sinkhole was filled with green trees, many of them with trunks larger than a person's embrace. These trees were tall and straight. In addition, the sinkhole contained very fresh, clear footprints of civets, red-faced monkey droppings, and bird nests.

Notably, in the pit there are 5 American MK81 bombs left from the war.

Cây xanh cao vút trong lòng hố sụt - Ảnh: HOÀNG TÁO — Tall green trees in the sinkhole - Photo: HOANG TAO

Potential for developing adventure tourism .

Joining the expedition, Dr. Le Tuan Anh from the Central Vietnam Institute of Science and Technology said that the area around the sinkhole has very high biodiversity, containing many undiscovered values. Dr. Tuan Anh suggested that in the future, focus should be placed on investigation and surveying to record new species, enhancing the biodiversity value of the conservation area.

Đặc biệt, hố có nhiều bom Mỹ chưa nổ còn sót lại từ chiến tranh - Ảnh: HOÀNG TÁO — In particular, the crater has many unexploded American bombs left over from the war - Photo: HOANG TAO

Ms. Hoang Thi Lan Phuong - a tourist from Vung Tau - who joined the expedition said the trip left many deep impressions.

"I am very happy to be part of the team that discovered the sinkhole in the middle of the mountainous landscape of Quang Tri. I will tell everyone to come to Quang Tri with its beautiful, majestic, and amazing scenery," Ms. Phuong said.

Currently, the Management Board of Bac Huong Hoa Nature Reserve is submitting a project to develop ecotourism in this area.

With the discovery of this sinkhole, along with its rich, pristine flora and fauna, numerous rivers, streams, and caves, this area has great potential for developing adventure tourism and trekking through the forest.