The mysterious corner of Texas - "The Well of Jacob"

Texas gave the world a uniquesight - the well of Jacob. This is a huge artesian source of fresh water. Its diameter is 4 meters, and the depth is more than 10 m. When a person stands on top, it seems that an abyss has opened under his feet. And maybe it does not seem, maybe it's true ...

Dangerous beauty

Many would never know the name of the cityWimberley, if not for the system of underwater caves. Showing the world in the photographs of the well of Jacob, Texas attracted the attention of a huge number of divers from all over the world. Of course, it's simply impossible to pass such a beauty. She attracts both researchers and simple adventurers. But attempts to penetrate the mystery lead to sad consequences. To date, the well of Jacob sacrificed his eight diving divers already.

System of underwater caves

So, a huge fresh source goes tosurface. For many millennia he "dissolved" the rocks, and in their place a huge funnel with sheer walls was formed. But that's not all. The attention of divers is attracted not only by the well of Jacob, but also by a unique system of caves. The first of them is located at a depth of nine meters and is considered the safest. Algae grow here and fish are found. Transparent fresh water allows you to observe the life of the underwater world, the width of the cave allows you to safely dive not only one, but also small groups. The length of this cave is not too great. It goes under a slight downward slope and ends at a depth of 16 meters. But this quiet underwater walk ends. Further researchers are waiting for real trials.

Trap for divers

The entrance to the second cave is located somewhat deeper. The diver will have to overcome 24 meters of water to get to him. Here the well of Jacob for the first time shows its cunning. Entering this cave is much easier than getting out of it. The passage is rather narrow, and it is almost impossible to turn around. The first victim of this cave was a young student from Texas who could not get out on a wide place.

The second cave has its secret. Here is the entrance, allowing to continue the journey. But is it worth the risk?

The third and fourth cave: curiosity or recklessness?

It is quite difficult to get into the third cave. The entrance is a narrow opening among unsteady and unstable gravel. Divers have to show miracles of dexterity, so as not to touch the small stones and not to cover the lumen. But this does not stop the brave. They seek further and deeper, to places where no one has ever visited them before.

The fourth cave is called "Virgin". To explore until the end of this cave has not yet been able to. This causes many to return to the well every year in the hope that now they will surely be lucky.

What is happening today

Once the well of Jacob was considered eternal. Everyone was sure that this spring can not run out and become shallow, but it was a mistake. Well of Jacob, whose photo continues to excite the minds of the extremes, gradually loses water.

A couple of millennia ago, the pressure of the source wasso strong that he beat over the surface, like a giant geyser. The height of the water fountain was almost 10 meters. However, the aquifer gradually decreases, and the water level in the well becomes smaller. About the fountain, we are not talking at all.

At the end of the 20th century, the firstscuba diver. This gave rise to a number of dangerous diving, which led to death many times. After another death case, the entrance to the well opening and into the underwater karst caves was attempted to block with a strong grate. But the divers were still trying to get inside.

In the end, the overlap and superstructure were removed, andToday the entrance to the well of Jacob is again open. However, the geological treasure of Texas continues to zealously guard its secrets, and the next divers are already filling with oxygen cylinders of aqualungs.