© 2024 | Jefferson Public Radio
Southern Oregon University
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
541.552.6301 | 800.782.6191
a service of Southern Oregon University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Lost Lake Disappears Down Three Holes Into Subterranean River

Producer: Vince Patton Videographer/Editor: Michael Bendixen Animation: Todd Sonflieth

Additional Photos & Video: The Bend Bulletin-Ryan Brennecke, Brent McGregor, Vince Patton

The Oregon Cascades are full of holes from which water pours forth. We call them springs.

However, at Lost Lake on Santiam Pass, three holes appear to work in reverse. They act like bathtub drains, sucking water down into a subterranean volcanic labyrinth.

The lake has suddenly become popular after a video by the Bend Bulletin went viral.

No one knew then there was more than one hole because water levels were still fairly high.

Terry McDermott stopped at the lake three times during trips over the pass, fascinated by the hole and the fast receding water.

Hole number two appears deeper and wider than the first.

About 15 yards away, Hole three may be little more than a small depression with grass growing inside.

Yet, it too appears to drain into the lava.

While Lost Lake hardly looks more like a dry meadow than a lake in the autumn, come spring, snow will melt, springs will refill it and the holes will be covered up with water.

For a while.

The cycle continues.

Copyright 2020 EarthFix. To see more, visit .

<p>Terry McDermott takes photos at the hole at Lost Lake.</p>

Michael Bendixen

/

Terry McDermott takes photos at the hole at Lost Lake.

Vince Patton