15/09/2026
Rasheed Al Amrani | رشيد العمراني Did you know this giant hole hidden in the green mountains of Oman wasn’t caused by a meteorite? 👀🇴🇲
The Shihit (Shiheyt) Sinkhole, located in the Wilayat of Taqah in Oman’s Dhofar Governorate, is a dramatic natural depression formed over thousands of years as water slowly dissolved the region’s limestone, eventually causing the ground above to collapse—a geological process known as karst formation. (Oman Observer)
Local folklore, however, tells a more dramatic story: that a meteorite once crashed here and created the enormous crater. Scientists point instead to the same limestone dissolution processes responsible for many of Dhofar’s spectacular caves and sinkholes. (Oman Observer)
What makes Shihit even more striking is how dramatically it changes during Khareef, Dhofar’s annual monsoon season. Mist, light rain and cooler temperatures transform the surrounding mountains into rolling green landscapes, while trees and vegetation flourish inside the sinkhole itself. 🌿🌫️ (Oman Observer)
It’s one of those places that almost doesn’t look real from above—a massive opening in the earth surrounded by some of Oman’s greenest scenery.
📍 Shihit Sinkhole, Wilayat of Taqah, Dhofar Governorate, Oman 🇴🇲
