Here’s a new addition for the nightmare box: a gaping mouth that greedily drains gallons of murky water into a frothing hole.
It is known as the Glory Hole, and to be honest, we were as surprised as you about that.
The orifice was activated for the first time in six years last week, and since then onlookers have been pulling up to stare.
It was automatically triggered when water levels at the Monticello Dam in Napa reached their maximum level, so some of the fluid in the reservoir had to be released.
Officially known as the Morning Glory Spillway, it has only rarely been activated, when levels are so high that Lake Berryessa is at risk of flooding.
Swimming near it is stricly prohibited, as if you get sucked inside the vortex of spiralling water, you won’t be coming out alive.
Chris Lee, the general manager for the Solano County Water Agency, told the LA Times that the plunging water hole is ‘definitely worth seeing. I’ve been lucky enough to see it a few times. … It’s just not that common.’
The 72-ft wide spillway got its name because it is said to resemble the Morning Glory flower…. obviously.
It isn’t the only famous glory hole around, either.
The UK has its own at a waterway in Lincoln, which was said to need a good bit of wood to save it from collapse when support beams were damaged in 2023.
Peter Kilkus, the editor of a local paper near Monticello, told the New York Times: ‘People were taking pictures and videos and just standing in awe.’
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Another atmospheric river is expected to bring more heavy rain to northern California on Thursday.
So if you want to experience the glory of the hole near San Fransisco for yourself, you still have time.
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