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All the United States Oregon Yachats Thor's Well

Thor's Well

On the Oregon coast there is a natural hole that seems to be draining the sea.

Yachats, Oregon

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Thor’s Well.   John Fowler/CC BY 2.0
6/5/2023   mmwoodruff / Atlas Obscura User
Aerial view of Thor’s Well. With permission from the good rangers at Cape Perpetua   bernardgomez / Atlas Obscura User
Thor’s Well 9/2/2019   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
Thor’s Well 9/2/2019   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
Thor’s Well   dctsystems / Atlas Obscura User
Thor’s Well - Winter Rough Seas   JFMJ / Atlas Obscura User
Thor’s Well - Winter Rough Seas   JFMJ / Atlas Obscura User
  archermusicservice / Atlas Obscura User
Thor’s Well.   Michel Matton/CC BY-SA 4.0
Thor’s Well.   Mark Gunn/CC BY 2.0
Pre-storm visit.   jesseralejandro / Atlas Obscura User
  falynnk / Atlas Obscura User
  jyackabonis / Atlas Obscura User
  jyackabonis / Atlas Obscura User
Thor’s Well.   Thomas Shahan/CC BY 2.0
Thor’s Well.   John Fowler/CC BY 2.0
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Sitting on the edge of the Oregon coast near Cape Perpetua, a gaping, seemingly bottomless sinkhole swallows the unbroken stream of seawater around it. Thor’s Well, as the natural wonder is known, is not actually bottomless; it is, however, very dangerous.  

Also known as the drainpipe of the Pacific, the well is actually a hole in the rock that only appears to drain water from the ocean. According to some researchers, the well probably started out as a sea cave dug out by the waves, before the roof eventually collapsed and created openings at the bottom and top through which the ocean sprays. The huge hole is likely only around 20 feet (six meters) deep, but it still manages to produce amazing sights. (Not for the faint of heart, however!)

The site is most spectacular at high tide, or during storms when water washes violently over the rocks and funnels into the hole. During these sudden torrents, unsuspecting visitors to the site run the risk of being swept right into the maelstrom. Regardless of the risks, photographers and nature lovers continue to flock to the stunning fountain to see the aggressive waters that live up to their godly namesake’s stormy personality. The best time to visit Thor’s Well is one hour before the high tide to see it without water and then observe how the formation fills up.

Related Tags

Natural Wonders Nature Waterfalls Water National Parks

Know Before You Go

Just South of the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center in Cook's Chasm, Oregon. Park on the West side of Highway 101 to see it below.

Community Contributors

Edited By

littlebrumble, Molly McBride Jacobson, chovanec523, erjeffery...

  • littlebrumble
  • Molly McBride Jacobson
  • chovanec523
  • erjeffery
  • TeaAndCoffeeLover
  • MC Squared
  • pjrje4
  • EricGrundhauser
  • falynnk
  • mmwoodruff
  • bernardgomez
  • JFMJ
  • Keri Kilgo
  • jesseralejandro
  • dctsystems
  • archermusicservice
  • imedinajr
  • jyackabonis

Published

August 19, 2016

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Sources
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Perpetua
  • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/17/thors-well-oregon_n_5146466.html
  • https://roadtrippers.com/us/or/nature/thors-well-cape-perpetua
  • http://www.amazingplacesonearth.com/thors-well-usa/
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%9Atgar%C3%B0a-Loki
Thor's Well
Yachats, Oregon, 97498
United States
44.27843, -124.113525

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