ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Carolina bays

Carolina bays are like oval-shaped holes in the ground that are found in some parts of the southeastern United States. They are formed by a mysterious force of nature that scientists are still trying to figure out.

Imagine you are playing in the sand at the beach and you start digging a hole with your hands. You make the hole deeper and bigger, and eventually, it becomes an oval shape. Now imagine that instead of sand, you are digging in the ground, and the hole is so big that it's as long as a football field!

That's kind of what a Carolina bay looks like, but it's not made by a person digging. Instead, it's created by a powerful force, like a giant scoop that dug out the earth. Scientists think this force could be a comet or another space rock that crashed into the ground a long time ago.

Because Carolina bays are so big and strange-looking, many people have been curious for years about where they came from and why they are shaped the way they are. Scientists are still studying Carolina bays to learn more about their history and how they were formed.
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