Bimmah Sinkhole

Hawiyat Najm Park

Useful Information

Location:	Hawiyat Najm Park, near Bimmah. (23.0358356, 59.0719333)
Open:	All year daily 7:30-23. [2020]
Fee:	free. [2020]
Classification:	Doline
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	L=70 m, W=50 m, VR=20 m.
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Hawiyat Najm Park, Qurayyat, Oman
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

The Bimmah Sinkhole is the collapse of a huge river cave. It was probably used as a freshwater well by the locals and later transformed into a swim park. A stone staircase leads down into the sinkhole to the cave river. According to the locals this place was created when a meteorite hit the spot and made this hole. As a result the surrounding small park is named Haweat Najm Park (The Falling Star Park). The sinkhole is only about 600 m from the sea, obviously the cave drains to the sea. As a result sea water enters the cave and the turquoise water in the sink is a mix of fresh and salt water.

There are small fish in the water, which are used for cleaning the body. If you hang your feet into the water and are very still, they come out and start to clean your skin from excess skin cells and dirt. They obviously work like cleaner fish, which is harmless but might tickle.

The lake is said to be up to 100 m deep, which is possible but sounds like a legend. Most likely there is a cave crossing underneath, which is a river cave and transports water to the sea. The resurgence ist under water, because it developed during the last ice age, when the sea level was 100 m lower. So it is actually possible that the cave is 100 m below the surface. We have not found any publications, if this connection was ever explored by a cave diver, but the hydrological connection is obvious.

This place is free and very popular. If you want some tranquility we recommend a visit on a workday, if possible before 11 in the morning. When it becomes hot during lunch it is populated by locals even during the week. However, the most impressive view of the turquoise water requires sunshine on the water surface, which is around noon.