Guatemala has been going through terrible times recently...If you've been watching the news you will know that they have had volcanic eruptions, tropical storms and what not.
Looking at scenes of the devastation and suffering in that place, is heart-wrenching...
Today, I saw this...
Apparently, this is not photo-shopped! It's real, very real. A really huge sink hole right in the middle of town!
Did you even know that was possible? I thought we had solid ground under our feet, and, the Earth, along with the gravity and everything, has got us totally covered! But LOOK at this!
It's a really deep hole formed because of the ground water eroding the weak limestone that is found underground. This phenomenon is called a 'karst'. The place is called 'karst topography'. Direct quote from an article about Karst Topography and Sinkholes in About.com - "About 10% of the earth's land (and 15% of the United States') surface consists of soluble limestone, which can be easily dissolved by the weak solution of carbonic acid found in underground water."
Basically, what they're saying is that the earth can cave in at any moment, without prior warning - no smoke signals, no hot water spurting out...nothing, absolutely nothing!
Apparently, this has happened in Guatemala before - the depth of the sink hole being twice deeper than the height of the Statue of Liberty!
I took one look at that picture, and shivered in horror...Imagine looking down into one of those holes just outside of your backyard...Or worse, falling down one of those holes...losing everything to a giant hole in the ground...sounds surreal...I still can't believe such things can actually happen in this world. I guess they can...
Disclaimer: Okay, now I don't know if this is photo-shopped. And I kind of hope it is...for the sake of the people who live there. But if it isn't, then I pray that the people of Guatemala will have the strength to face their trials...
And I hope we can all do something, however small, to help these people.
Note: I am so blessed to live in one of the most boring little towns in India! I used to complain that nothing ever happens in Nagercoil...well, right now...I am not complaining at all!
I am counting my blessings right now? Are you?
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