Il-Maqluba: Malta's Mysterious Sinkhole

Il-Maqluba, located on the outskirts of Qrendi, is a remarkable geological formation and a site of intriguing local legends. The name translates to 'the upside-down one' or 'the inside-out one' in Maltese. This large sinkhole is believed to have been formed on November 23, 1343, possibly triggered by a severe winter storm or an earthquake that caused the collapse of underlying limestone strata. Geologically, it's classified as a doline, a type of sinkhole created by the collapse of a cave.Local folklore offers a more colorful explanation, suggesting that the sinkhole was created as divine punishment for a village of evildoers. According to the legend, a pious woman warned the villagers to change their ways, but they ignored her pleas. As a result, God caused the ground to collapse, swallowing the village except for the good woman, whose house is said to be where the Chapel of St. Matthew now stands. Angels then purportedly threw the destroyed village into the sea, creating the island of Filfla.Today, Il-Maqluba is a protected natural site, part of the Natura 2000 network. The sinkhole is approximately 15 meters deep with a perimeter of 300 meters and a surface area of around 4,765 square meters. It sustains a unique ecosystem with diverse flora, including bay laurel, sandarac gum trees (Malta's national tree), and the endemic Maltese salt tree. It's also a nesting site for the blue rock thrush, Malta's national bird. Visitors can admire the sinkhole from a viewing area near the Chapel of St. Matthew.