Mirny Diamond Mine

The world's second largest hole

Category Geological Oddities

The second largest man-made hole in the world (surpassed only by the Bingham Copper Mine in Utah) is a diamond mine located on the outskirts of Mirny, a small town in eastern Siberia. Begun in 1955, the pit is now 525 meters deep and 1.25 kilometers across. The massive 20-foot tall rock-hauling trucks that service the mine travel along a road that spirals down from the lip of the hole to its basin. Round-trip travel time: two hours. Airspace above the mine is off-limits to helicopters, after "a few accidents when they were 'sucked in' by downward air flow..."

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  • Address Mirny, Russia
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According to the BBC, "The town is strictly off limits to outsiders without a special permit and the authorities regard any foreigners with considerable suspicion."

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  • felipeducaa& felipeducaa September 15, 2009
    I'm pretty sure most people have seen this one. It's an absolute beast and holds the title of largest open diamond mines in the world. At 525 meters deep, with a top diameter of 1200 meters , there's even a no-fly zone above the hole due to a few helicopters having been sucked in. ________________ <a href="http://www.netpointar.com.ar/S_Seguridad/Netpoint_Security/default.asp">tarjetas plasticas</a>
  • & Anonymous September 14, 2009
    Hi my name is quintin im from S.Af. And we got a diamond farm with a pipe and 3 or 4 blows. And want to sell the farm. Got all the info on the farm my email is q.silvertone@gmail.com. Regards quintin morley.
  • & Anonymous June 17, 2009
    Your maplink points to the wrong place Here is the correct Google Maps link: http://is.gd/14kay

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