A Sinkhole in the Desert

Musfer Sinkhole, located in Umm Al Shabrum, off Salwa Road, near the Saudi Arabian border, is suspected to be a key piece of a much greater system of inter-connecting underground caverns, most of which had collapsed. The sinkhole has an opening of about 40 feet across by 16 feet high, and the deepest that can be reached by a person is more than 325 feet. For safety reasons, Musfer Sinkhole is chain-link fenced, but has a small gate for access. There are no steps going down the hole but the ground is steady enough for a descent. The temperature drops as you start to descend into the cave, giving visitors a much-needed break from the desert heat. A great place to visit for a day trip, lots of good opportunities for unique pictures. To get there from Doha, drive west on Salwa Road for about 13 miles until you see the sign for Umm Ash Shubrum. From this turn off, the Earth Satellite Tracking Station comes is visible. The cave is to the right near the station. N 25 10’30” E 51 12’41”