The Hole in the Ocean

There is a hole in the Pacific Ocean which looks like it is sucking all the surrounding water in.
This opening calls to mind a portal to a ancient and secret marine world and is called Thor’s Well and it’s actually a natural salt water fountain located near the Oregon shore at Cape Perpetua, 3 miles (~5 kilometers) south of Yachats.

This is a kind of geological formation that takes a very long time to form.
Initially, an underwater cavern is formed. Later, the roof of this cavern collapses leaving an opening from which water pours out.
During high tides the water is sucked in and thrown out violently creating very big waves that furiously dance before our eyes.

The black rocks that surround the well are so sharp and slippery that photographers who try to get close enough to take the perfect picture must take a few risks.
Nevertheless, Thor’s Well is one of the favorite subject of the more fearless photographers, whom our thanks for sharing their beautiful pictures with us go to.

The best moment to enjoy this wild natural show is the arc of time that goes between one hour before and one hour after the peak of the high tide.
The site can be reached in a 10 minutes walk, following the Captain Cook Trailhaed from Cape Code Visitor Center.

Otherwise, by taking the Restless Water Trail going North, another 10 minutes walk will bring you to another peculiar formation: Devil’s Churn.
This is a crack in the coastal basaltic rock which is the result of thousands of years of the erosive force of the wave motion.

The long and narrow inlet funnels the energy of the waves creating an impetuous bustle and thunderous surges that sometimes carry rubble that violently falls back down. For this reason it’s advisable not to get too close, especially during high tides and coastal storms.