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This 24 acre pond is in fact a giant sinkhole, the remains of a collapsed cavern in Assumption
Parish, Louisiana. And although it looks placid, it's still hungry.
The sinkhole, near the village of Bayou Corne and Grand Bayou, formed almost overnight in
August 2012, after a so-called salt dome cavern - a giant underground mine, collapsed. The
structure, owned by a company called Texas Brine, was closed in 2011 after years of being
mined and expanded.
Workers have since been trying to stabilise the cave-in, which has ruptured underground
gas and oil supplies and sent roiling, bubbling 'burps' of it up to the surface, causing the
two nearby communities to be largely evacuated due to fears the toxic mix could explode.
Around 350 people have been ordered to leave their homes.
Not only that, but there is now reportedly a risk of highly salted water from the cavern
infecting the freshwater swamps nearby, which would likely be a catastrophe for local wildlife.
Louisiana state is suing Texas Brine over the sinkhole, whilst they in turn are suing
the landowners, a company called Occidental, and three other companies who were involved
in the operation.
In the meantime, the sinkhole continues to grow. It's thought it could be years before
the ground settles.