Precious Earth

Kimberley Big Hole

The mining at Kimberly ceased in 1914, after reaching 1097 meters deep and 22.5 millions tons of excavated earth. Today the Big Hole still lays in the center of the city, 215 meters deep and filled with 40 meters of water. It is very impressive how close to the houses and buildings the edges of the hole are, considering the sidewalls would collapse if the ground waters were not continuously pumped out. Kimberly big hole claims to be the largest hand-dug excavation in the world, the first 240 meters having been dug open-pit with picks and shovels.

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