Devil’s Hole is a water-filled geologic formation in Nye County. In 1952, this isolated cave with its geothermal pool was made into a detached part of Death Valley National Monument to protect its indigenous pupfish, an ancient fish only found here. In 1962, after the death of two divers, the entire area was fenced off.
Nevada's Amargosa desert is located just over Death Valley's Funeral Mountains.
Pupfish have been on the endangered species list since 1967. There is currently a population of less than 200. Genetic information suggests that pupfish are as old Hole itself, which emerged approximately 60,000 years ago.
In 1965, Paul Giancontieri, 20, and David Rose, 19, went snorkeling in Devil's Hole equipped only with snorkels, masks, and flippers. Tragically, the two young men died while exploring the Hole. After their death, it was permanently fenced off.
The complete size and depth of Devil's Hole have neither been fully reached nor recorded. It is said to extend to a depth of more than 900 feet and is shaped like an inverted funnel.
Devil's Hole has fascinated many people over the years; however, none as notorious as Charles Manson. Shortly after he and his "family" arrived in Death Valley in the late 1960's, Manson went looking for a mysterious hole that would lead them to a safe place to live in the desert. After searching for days, Manson believed he had found his mysterious tunnel - Devil's Hole. He allegedly sat and meditated for three days trying to figure out how to drain it.
Devil's Hole also measures seismic activity around the globe. Earthquakes from as far away as Indonesia have caused the interior water to splash as much as six feet above its normal levels.
To this day, nobody knows the full depth of Devil’s Hole. Have you seen this geological anomaly up close and in person? Please share your experiences below.
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