Swallow-hole

See also: Swallow-hole (homonymy)

A swallow-hole (of the generally marked occitan “avenc” swallow-hole/ovén) is a Gouffre characteristic of the areas Karstique S, generally formed by the collapse of the vault of a karstic cavity (or cave) due to the dissolution of the limestones layers.

A swallow-hole is a Grotte whose access opens in the ground and who presents on whole or part of his development the form of a puit vertical or sub-vertical, which makes it difficult to reach without specific material. Dimensions of the opening on the surface of these open cavities are very variable: of a few decimetres, with one or two hectometers, in the same way the depth can be impressive.

The swallow-holes of great depth and/or having a very broad opening receive sometimes the name of Abîme or Abyme .

synomymes

  • Igue in the Quercy,

  • Sink-hole in Normandy and in Aveyron
  • Emposieu in the Jura (with a confusion of direction with a Doline)
  • Chantoir ,
  • Scialet in the North of the Alps (Savoy and Isere and Drome),
  • Chourun in the Dévoluy (the High Alps), (Picardy Chourun, Chourun Martin for example)
  • Endousoir or endouzoère out of Champagne,
  • Embut in Provence
  • Barrenc in the Aude

or also:

Some examples of swallow-holes:

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