Oman’s hidden depths: Tourists flock to the sinkholes of Dhofar

High in the misty mountains of southern Oman, giant sinkholes are drawing crowds of curious tourists, captivated by their size, beauty, and mysterious origins.

Dhofar governorate is home to at least four massive sinkholes, including Kahf Teiq, one of the largest in the world, plunging 211 meters deep. Another, Tawi Atair, or the “Well of Birds,” is known for the echoes of birdsong that bounce off its rock walls, creating a haunting soundscape. Once unknown outside Oman, Tawi Atair gained international attention in 1997 thanks to Slovenian researchers.

Now, visitors wander marked paths and staircases, though some sites remain dangerous. At Sheeheet Pit, steep mud edges and a sheer drop recently led to a tourist slipping near the edge, prompting authorities to tighten safety measures.

Folklore once blamed the sinkholes on meteorite strikes or supernatural events. But geologists like Ali Faraj Al-Kathiri explain they formed over thousands of years as acidic water dissolved porous limestone.

Unlike Yemen’s infamous “Well of Hell,” Oman’s chasms are being embraced as tourist attractions. With Dhofar’s cooler monsoon climate drawing summer visitors, the sinkholes offer a dramatic window into both the Earth’s depths and Oman’s rich cultural imagination.