What caused the Big Hole in Kimberley?
150 years ago, the site of the Big Hole was a featureless, flat-topped hill. When word spread that diamonds had been discovered, thousands of prospectors, armed with nothing more than picks, shovels and hope, descended on Kimberley and created the largest hand-dug excavation in the world.
What is inside the Big Hole?
During a visit to the Big Hole in Kimberley, South Africa you will not only see the largest man made hole in the world but also the largest diamond display in the world. Various displays will introduce you to the world of diamond mining and all aspects of diamonds as well as the history of diamonds in South Africa.
How many people died in the Big Hole in Kimberley?
The untold and heartbreaking story of a mining disaster that occurred at Kimberley’s Big Hole, where more than 200 miners died, will be portrayed on the stage of the Northern Cape Theatre.
How big is the Big Hole in Kimberley?
215 metres deep
About The Big Hole
What began as a flat-topped hill is today a gaping hole measuring 215 metres deep, with a surface area of 17 hectares and a perimeter of 1.6 kilometres. Did you know? Digging commenced at the Kimberley mine site in 1871.
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