Earth scars: see the world's most breathtaking craters and mines

Earth scars: see the world's most breathtaking craters and mines - Planet Earth has some open-cast mines and craters which are so deep they can even be seen from Space. These 'scars' on our planet's surface were made either by meteorites or human intervention. Some of the mines are in use, others are now huge tourist attractions, while many of the naturally occurring depressions remain a mystery to this day. Discover the most impressive mines and craters in the world!

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Darvaza gas crater, Turkmenistan - This incredible crater was created accidentally by Soviet geologists in the Karakum desert.

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Darvaza gas crater, Turkmenistan - Since then the crater has become known for its constant flame, which has been burning since 1971, fueled by the rich deposits of natural gas in the area.

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Darvaza gas crater, Turkmenistan - The orange flames stretch across a diameter of 70 m and give off such a strong sulfur fumes that they can be smelled from far away. The fiery phenomenon is a tourist spot and a mystery for geologists all over the world.

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Grasberg mine, Indonesia - In the province of Papua is the largest gold mine and third largest copper mine in the world.

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Grasberg mine, Indonesia - Thousands of workers are employed here to mine tonnes of copper, silver, and gold each year.

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Grasberg mine, Indonesia - The mine is spectacular for its enormity and richness, making it one of the most beautiful open-pit mines in the world.

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Diavik Diamond mine, Canada - This area in the northwest of Canada was discovered in 1992, and open-pit mining began there in 2003. So far over 7.7 sq km have been mined there.

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Diavik Diamond mine, Canada - Diavik has three mineral deposits and produces over 8 million diamond carats each year. This open-cast mine is beautiful when seen from above.

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Meteor Crater, United States - It is believed that this crater was formed when a meteorite hit Earth over 50,000 years ago.

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Meteor Crater, United States - The crater is located near Winslow in the Arizona desert. It is just over 1 km in diameter and 200 m deep.

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Kimberley mine, South Africa - This mine, located on the outskirts of Kimberley, in the province of the Northern Cape, was mined completely by hand.

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Kimberley mine, South Africa - It measures 463 m in diameter and is almost 240 m deep. It was mined by 50,000 diamond miners in the 19th century.

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Keriđ, Iceland - This spectacular lake is a volcanic crater located in Grímsnes, in the south of Iceland.

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Keriđ, Iceland - The caldera is about 55 meters deep, 170 m wide and 270 m across. It is considered a national wonder!

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Fimiston Open Pit, Western Australia - This incredible sight is the largest gold mine in Australia. The pit is about 3.5 km long, 1.5 km wide, and 360 m deep.

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Fimiston Open Pit, Western Australia - This impressive mine produces tonnes of gold each year and is one of the richest in Australia. It is located in Kalgoorlie and was opened in 1893.

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Bingham Canyon mine, United States - This open-pit mine is to the southeast of Salt Lake City, in the state of Utah. It is the deepest in the world and the largest hole ever dug by humans.

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Bingham Canyon mine, United States - It has been functioning since 1906, and has created a pit 4 km wide and about 1,200 m deep.

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Mir mine, Russia - This was an open-cast diamond mine, which is located in Mirny, Siberia, Russia. This is the second largest man-made pit in the world, measuring 524 deep and about 1.2 km wide.

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Berkeley Pit, United States - This is an old open-cast mine in Butte, Montana, in the United States. It is 1.5 km wide and about 540 m deep.

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Berkeley Pit, United States - This is one of the most contaminated places in the world, with acidic waters and a high concentration of heavy metals and toxic chemical products.

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Berkeley Pit, United States - Berkeley Pit was in operation between 1955 and 1982. Today it is a marvel of the world which attracts tourists from all four corners of the planet.

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Quilotoa, Ecuador - The volcanic crater lake Quilotoa in Ecuador, is 250 m deep and filled with waters which have different colors.

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Quilotoa, Ecuador - Depending on the sun, the lake can turn green owing to the minerals which accumulate in it.

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Chuquicamata, Chile - This is one of the most famous open-pit mines in the world and the biggest sources of wealth in Chile. It is located 215 km north of Antofagasta and is over 900 m deep.

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Chuquicamata, Chile - The mine was opened in 1882, but metal had been extracted from here for centuries. It currently represents the majority of Chile's mining exports.

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Wolfe Creek Crater, Western Australia - This mysterious crater in the west of Australia was formed when a meteorite hit Earth.

(Foto: CC BY 2.0)

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Wolfe Creek Crater, Western Australia - It is over 800 m in diameter and about 60 m deep. It's still a world mystery.

(Foto: CC BY 2.0)

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Udachny mine, Russia - The Udachny diamond mine, located in Eastern Siberia, is one of the largest open-cast mines in the country and one of the deepest in the world, reaching down approximately 600 m.

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