In Oman, the canyon is greener than you'd expect. For a cool escape in August. Even in the Gulf.

Shrouded in the mist of the verdant mountains of southern Oman , a gigantic chasm carves a hole in the landscape: from its depths emerge mysterious sounds that have fueled myths and legends among local tribes. This massive landslide is one of four chasms that pierce the Dhofar governorate, including Kahf Teiq, 211 meters deep and 150 meters wide, considered one of the largest in the world.

In the Tawi Atair chasm, tourists happily stroll along concrete paths and stairs. But not all these cavities are so welcoming. Located a 40-minute drive from the mountains, the Sheeheet chasm is surrounded by slippery mud, prompting authorities to erect a fence and install warning signs. It's not uncommon to witness someone slipping just steps from the edge. Marwan bin Turki Al-Said, a Dhofar resident who visited the area, assured Agence France Presse that safety at these sites remains a priority.

Tawi Atair means "bird well" in the local Dhofar language, a reference to the birds' chirping, amplified and distorted by the echoes of the rock walls. According to locals, a wide variety of wildlife has made its home in this sinkhole, where the water flows deep: birds and reptiles coexist with porcupines and baboons.

The site gained international popularity after 1997, when a team of Slovenian researchers, in collaboration with Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, brought it to international attention. These sinkholes are now promoted as a tourist attraction in Dhofar, whose mild climate draws visitors from the Gulf during the scorching summers.

Local legends say they are the result of meteorite impacts from outer space, which are said to have carved out these colossal craters. But for Ali Faraj Al-Kathiri, a geologist living in Dhofar, the explanation is more concrete: water seeping into the porous limestone forms an acid that slowly dissolves it, hollowing out these cavities over thousands of years.

Oman's sinkholes should not be confused with the "Hell Pit": the stinking cesspool of Barhout, located across the border in Yemen, believed to be the home of demons. Long off the beaten track, Oman is now attracting a growing number of tourists seeking pristine nature and authenticity. The Gulf country welcomed nearly 4 million tourists in 2024, and the local government plans to triple that figure between now and 2040.