Travel

Where In The World Is ... Thor's Well?

Strange "Gate to Hell" creates the ultimate oceanic optical illusion

Deep along a rugged coast, a hole in the tideline turns incoming waves into a parade of waterfalls.

When the tide rolls in and waves crash against the shore, water rushes into this circular opening and simply vanishes. The sight is so strange that locals have given it ominous names like "The Gate to Hell" and "Thor's Well." Ancient area folklore speaks of sea gods opening portals to the underworld, while modern visitors often describe experiencing vertigo as they watch endless gallons of seawater disappear into what appears to be a bottomless pit.

Think you know where this oceanic mystery is located?

The effect is most dramatic during high tide, especially when winter storms whip up powerful swells. Water floods into the depression from all sides, creating a swirling vortex before apparently draining away completely. Photographers flock during these conditions, though they have to be extremely careful not to slip on the surrounding basalt rock.

Of course, the water isn't actually disappearing, and this feature wasn't created by any sort of supernatural being. Instead, the sinkhole was carved by centuries of wave action into the volcanic rock, and it connects to underwater caverns that fill and empty with the tides. When conditions are right, it creates a perfect illusion of the ocean draining away, when it's really just flowing through hidden channels beneath the surface.

Can you guess where in the world this place is?

You'll find this natural wonder at Cape Perpetua along Oregon's central coast, where it's become one of the most photographed geological features in the Pacific Northwest. The best viewing requires a short hike down to the rocky shoreline, and timing your visit with high tide and stormy weather will give you the most dramatic show.

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