All around the world are remnants of a party of epic proportions – Devil’s punchbowls. Or maybe the punch was more literal. Let’s explore the interesting geology of these legendary cauldrons.
Year: 2018
Devil’s Gate
Several sinister and infamous places around the world have been named the Devil’s Gate and come with legends of murder, magic, and monsters. Let’s take a brief tour.
Devil’s Kitchen
Something evil may be cooking up in places given the name of the “Devil’s Kitchen”. […]
Devil’s Den
Devil’s Den is an infamous collection of large diabase boulders within the Gettysburg National Battlefield. The location has accrued spooky legends. But the truth about this diabolical place, and others with the same name, is connected to geology.
Devil Places
There are countless places in the world named after the Devil. Devil-named places sometimes owe their moniker to the geology. The features of these places may create a spooky and foreboding feeling that reinforces the local legends of the places being cursed, evil or enchanted. Let’s explore Satan’s Kingdom on earth.
Thirteen trapped in Thailand flooded cave
From June into July of 2018, media coverage about 12 boys and an adult man trapped in a cave in Thailand transfixed people around the world. How did they get trapped and not be able to get out? Let’s talk groundwater and karst.
Pele’s hair and tears
Volcanic eruption products are attributed to Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire. Her hair and tears form from lava bubbles in the wind.
The wrath of Pele
The legend of Pele, goddess of fire, still resonates with natives of the Hawaiian islands. Stories of her kindness and curses are still popular today as Kilauea’s activity continues.
Island of the Dead is Eroding
Hart Island is New York City’s “potters field” where one million of the poor, unclaimed, or unidentified dead are buried. Islands, however, are not great places for burial due to high water tables and erosion. Strong storms in the past few years have eaten away at the land and exposed skeletal remains.
Earthquake Lights
The evidence for earthquake lights (EQLs) consists overwhelmingly of anecdotal accounts. But scientific evidence has been accumulating, and in the past 10 years a plausible theory to explain the host of unusual precursors has been proposed. Spooky Geology examines the credibility and cause of earthquake lights and other associated phenomenon.
Sinkholes – Are you at risk?
There is something highly unnerving about the thought that the ground can give way into a gaping void that can swallow trees, cars, structures, and even people. How frightened should you be of sinkholes? While they can be catastrophic, they are not entirely unpredictable.
The Grand Kenyan – A huge fissure in the East African Rift valley
A huge fissure developed in the East African Rift Valley in Kenya on March 19, 2018. Was it caused by faulting or rains?
Ground fissures in Saudi Arabia
Huge and terrifying ground cracks appeared in central Saudi Arabia. Is the earth breaking apart or is the cause far more local?
River of rock flows in New Zealand
Heavy rainfall led to a rapid flow that entrained rocks of considerable size in New Zealand. The Rakaia River in Canterbury turned into a dangerous river of rock.