There are some places on Earth that simply have to be seen to be believed. Right up there on the list are a bunch of holes that are so bizarre or beautiful that you'll want to hop on the next flight to see for yourself. Check them out below.

The Heavenly Pit

via Zameen

The Heavenly Pit sinkhole in China is located in Xiaozhai, Tiankeng in the Chongqing District. It is a double-nested sinkhole measuring 662 metres deep, 626 metres long and 537 metres wide.
The sinkhole gradually formed over 128,000 years and it is the deepest in the world. Because of its enormous size, it is frequented by extreme BASE-jumping adventurers
It is structurally double nested, with upper and lower bowls 320 and 342 metres respectively.
An 8.5 kilometre underground river flows beneath the sinkhole. This river and its surrounding cave was mapped and explored during the 1994 China Caves Project.

Siberian Holes

via Daily Mail

Three holes were recently discovered in Siberia. The first, estimated to be 50–100 metres across, has been found to have a lake at the bottom of it; the second hole, miles from the first on a peninsula lovingly referred to as ‘The End of the World’, is only about 15 metres wide; and the third hole, which was accidentally discovered by reindeer herders, is a near-perfect cone-shaped hole about 4 metres wide and 60–100 metres deep.
The ring of dirt and debris around each hole indicates these massive holes were created by a force that stemmed from inside the Earth and exploded outward. Theories for the cause of these explosions include stray missiles, gas-related mishaps, pranks and, of course, extra terrestrial interference.
One major working theory suggests the holes are a kind of reverse sinkhole that has yet to be scientifically documented. Instead of collapsing in on themselves, it’s thought the holes were initiated by underground fissures that caused the melting of permafrost. The holes then filled with natural gas and, when the pressure became too great, dirt and debris erupted outwards.

Dean’s Blue Hole

via Rumble

Blue holes are underwater holes, and the world’s largest discovered blue hole is Dean’s Blue Hole in the Bahamas. At a depth of 202 metres, Dean’s Blue Hole is more than twice as deep as most other blue holes, making it a favourite among professional deep-sea divers.
The area is a tourist hotspot, and is home to a varied assortment of marine life. It’s also host to several championship diving events, including Vertical Blue, where more than 30 divers compete in a series of free-diving challenges.
Long Island locals generally steer clear of Dean’s Blue Hole. According to legend, the hole was dug by the devil, and he still can be found there, dragging people who dare to swim in the hole to their deaths.

German Superdeep Hole

via Viral Spots

Germany’s famous superdeep hole was the result of the German Continental Deep Drilling Program, one of the most ambitious geoscientific projects ever.
The project’s goal was to grant scientists the opportunity to study the earth’s crust, the effects of stress on layers of rock and observe any abnormalities along the way.
The $350 million project, which concluded in 1994, left Windischeschenbach, Germany with a hole 9,100 metres (30,000 ft) deep and as hot as 265 degrees Celsius (509 °F).
The project was also notable for Dutch artist Lotte Geeven’s involvement. Geeven wanted to know what the planet sounded like, so arranged to have a geophone lowered into the hole to record ultrasonic waves. She translated the data through a computer program to discover the sounds of the earth, which she likened to a distant thunderstorm. The sound eerily resembles a heartbeat.

Great Blue Hole

An underwater sinkhole located 60 miles off the coast of Belize. The hole is 300 metres across and 125 metres deep, and is found in the centre of the Lighthouse Reef.
The Great Blue Hole formed as a limestone cave during the last ice age. It’s believed to have been created by a sea level increase.
It has unusual stilted stalactites and is part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, which has been declared as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Its circular shape makes it popular among tourists. Scuba divers frequent this reef because of the rare animal species that reside there.

Harwood Hole

via Wikipedia

Harwood Hole, located in New Zealand’s Abel Tasman National Park, is one of several important cave systems in Takaka Hill, between the Tasman and Golden Bays.
A 50-metre-round sinkhole entrance, it descends 183 metres vertically and has an overall depth of 357 metres.
Abel Tasman is a very popular national park in New Zealand, and a world-renowned sea kayaking destination.

The Devil’s Sinkhole

via Texas.gov

Edwards County, Texas is the home of The Devil’s Sinkhole, a massive underground limestone chamber with an opening 15 metres wide and a cavern 106 metres deep.
Visitors are not allowed in this cavern, but, during the summer months, more than three million Mexican free-tail bats can be seen flying from the Sinkhole’s entrance every night.
The sinkhole has mysterious origins. Before it was a protected site, this cave was raided by treasure-seekers and artifact-hunters. Dart tips and arrowheads have been found there dating back as early as 4000 B.C.

The Sawmill Sink

via You Should Know

A blue hole in the Bahamas, the Sawmill Sink has more scientific significance than extreme sports attraction Dean’s Blue Hole. The Sawmill Sink was the site of an archaeological dig that has helped change scientists’ views on what the landscape was like 1,000 years ago.
Interestingly, the Sawmill Sink was once dry, but slowly filled as water levels rose. This preserved the remains of seeds, birds, flowers and even a giant tortoise which was concealed there. Giant crocodile remains were also found. Researchers believe these were killed by primordial humans.
The blue hole also held the remains of one of the earliest known residents of the Bahamas, estimated to be about 1,050 years old.

The Deluxe Mystery Hole

via Barron Mind

The Deluxe Mystery Hole is a backyard attraction off Oregon’s I-205 freeway. According to the owner and promoter, it’s the most amazing archaeological site in the state.
The Mystery Hole’s depth has never been accurately determined by modern scientific methods, but the consensus is it is very deep. Some speculate it was dug by primitive people; others think it is a mark of extraterrestrial visitors.

These bizarre holes are all utterly unique, which is part of what makes them so special. While we know the cause for a lot of them, some are still so weird that we haven't yet pinpointed exactly how they came to be. And even though the Deluxe Mystery Hole has a lot of wackjob theories about it, don't let the hype distract you from the fact that this is still an amazing location that's worth the stop.

Others, like the German Superdeep Hole, were dug by man quite recently, but it's still a sight to behold and a story worth telling.

For more just like this, check out more fascinating holes at Planet Dolan.

Featured Image via Barron Mind