Secrets at the 'swallowing swamp' led to a headache from the US Geological Survey

Despite noticing the strange geological changes in the swamp, the US Geological Survey could not explain the real cause.

Although stemming from objective or subjective causes, the locations in this "Most Dangerous Regions" series contain hidden dangers, which can cause people to die at any time. .

1. America's "silent disaster"

The vast swamp area slowly swallowed the cypress trees higher than 12m into the deep water hole.

In August 2012, hundreds of people living north of Assumption Parish, Louisiana (USA) witnessed the "horrific nightmare of nature" when before their eyes, the vast swamp Bayou Corne remained daily. The peace suddenly turned into a giant monster, slowly swallowing the cypress tree taller than 12m into a deep, angry water hole. The unpleasant smell of crude spread throughout the town.

Two months before this tragic disaster, Assumption Parish residents felt the unusual thing on the water surface of the swamp Bayou Corne, the appearance of large bubbles, the ground was sometimes shaken. They thought that the earthquake was about to happen. However, no earthquake has been issued by authorities.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) also found strange geological changes here, however, they could not explain exactly what the cause was.

Experts invited by the local government to survey have suspected that the natural gas pipeline leaked is the cause of these confusing phenomena. However . no judgment is correct.

As a result, two months later, more than 350 people in Assumption Parish were forced to permanently evacuate the area near the swamp Bayou Corne to preserve life when the vast swamp appeared in the middle of a large swamp. , can suck and sink trees and shrubs into angry water.

Deathhole Bayou Corne in America.

Most dangerous, the number of trees and matter swallowed is proportional to the width of the crater. Since its appearance, the crater is only 10,000m ² wide, yet, so far, the scientist estimates, the sinking hole at the Bayou Corne swamp is about 100,000m ² wide and nearly 230m deep.

"Deathhole" Bayou Corne is a natural disaster or human hand? The cause may cause people to argue, but, the dangerous reality that it is bringing back is very real, very solid.

Scientists said that the actual "invisible killer" of the pit came from tens of millions of cubic meters of explosive and toxic gases (such as gas, methane .) escaping from floating aquifers. Go to the surface and drift to the inhabited areas.

Falling holes in the Bayou Corne swamp are increasingly expanding, looking from above.(Photo: New York Times).

2. Tracing the culprit

"This is the largest industrial disaster in the United States that many people are unaware of!" Said former American politician Tim Murphy, when authorities finally found the "real culprit" that caused it. "great nightmare" in the swamp Bayou Corne.

It is Brine Texas Company, LLC - the largest independent salt producer in the US , providing more than 30% of the chlorine-alkali industry's salt water needs.

About 1.6 km away from the Bayou Corne swamp is a large salt dome once fully exploited by Brine Texas, LLC.

For profit, the company has exhausted its salt mining, to the point that salt arches are structurally unstable, thus causing the collapse of the salt mine, damaging natural resources and resources. country of coastal Louisiana. Of course, the Bayou Corne disaster lies in this collapse scenario.

Before the salt mine collapsed, despite the use of salt extraction by Texas Brine, it was unseen to create a giant "aquifer" below the ground. They did not know that the swamp Bayou Corne only a few thousand meters away was affected.

When the solid soil is broken, the swamp water is pulled down to fill the void of the "aquifer" on the other side of the salt dome. As a result, the disaster called Bayou Corne took place.

Later, residents of Assumption Parish had to undergo "justice warrants " with Brine Texas, LLC for several months. Finally, the company had to compensate tens of millions of US dollars for the people here.

3. The constant consequences

People have exploited Earth's natural resources from the dawn of mankind, but never before has the exploitation of the petrochemical industry today been so strong and continuous. Consequently, the scientific community said that the use of modern mining drilling techniques has strongly influenced the stability of the geology.

It is not simply the appearance of giant sinkholes, which release toxic gases but also increase the risk of earthquakes later. The exhaustion of natural resources is gradually making us pay!