There's A Little-Known Hidden Gulf Just Waiting For Indiana Explorers
By Tori Jane|Published October 03, 2022
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Tori Jane
Author
Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Hoosier National Forest is a place that’s full of amazingness, don’t you think? It’s enormous, coming in at 204,000 acres, and over those acres, there’s a plethora of landscapes, flora, fauna, and more. There’s one little sliver of the forest – a plot of land stretching just a meager 187 acres – that’s particularly unique, and somehow, it constantly gets overlooked in favor of more popular must-see destinations in the forest. It’s called the Wesley Chapel Gulf, and it’s a natural wonder in Indiana you need to explore if you’re a fan of unique geology (and geography!).
Wesley Chapel Gulf is named after Wesley Chapel Church, which is located just north of the Gulf.
The Gulf is part of an awe-inspiring karst landscape, offering up truly fascinating glimpses as Indiana's geological past that we just plain don't see every day.
The Gulf is a geological feature that was formed when several sinkholes opened up in the landscape thanks in part to an underground river (in this case, the Lost River), which they then collapsed into. There were likely two or three sinkholes that opened up and subsequently collapsed, forming the semi-circle-shaped depression now called the Gulf.
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Water from the underground river fills the open space created by the sinkholes, and the result is a feature called the Boiling Spring.
It's not literally boiling; rather, it's called this because when it rains, and the Lost River swells and flows fast, it takes on a turbulent, boiling appearance as it floods over. It's quite the spectacle to witness, though you'd want to witness it from a safe distance.
Most of the time - when the river isn't flooding - the pool is a fascinating shade of emerald green. The water levels vary, mirroring the foliage that surrounds the pool in spring and summer.
In the fall, the deep green of the pool contrasts with the brilliant color of the surrounding trees. In winter, you'll likely find tiny frozen waterfalls all over this area - typically, anywhere the underground river touches and seeps forth.
Amazingly, this unusual piece of Indiana's geography wasn't always thought to be as special as it is.
Up until the Forest Service acquired the land, the sinkholes had been used as garbage dumps. The Forest Service was thankfully able to clean up the entire area and restore it to its natural splendor by 1999.
Ever since, Wesley Chapel Gulf has remained a well-kept secret that tends to amaze anyone lucky enough to happen upon it accidentally.
The entire area is worth a thorough exploration; you could spend hours here checking everything out from top to bottom.
Do you have any favorite natural wonders in Indiana? Tell us about them in the comments, or by filling out this form. We love learning about your favorite places!
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