There's Something Deadly Lurking In Jacob's Well

According to Heather Alexander of the Houston Chronicle, at least a dozen divers have died attempting to explore the cave system, which can be accessed about 100 feet down the sink hole. Alexander spoke to Don Dibble, a diver local to Hays County, who has assisted in searches for missing explorers in the cave system. Explaining why so many people have risked their lives at Jacob's Well, Dibble said, "It was the forbidden fruit, the allure of doing something dangerous."

Jacob's Well is a pretty neat natural attraction managed by Hays County Parks Department near Wimberley, Texas. The well is located in a larger nature area that attracts fans of normal nature area things. There's hiking and there are picnics, and then there's the well itself. According to Hays County, Jacob's Well isn't really a well at all. It's a massive sinkhole with an underwater cave system that runs 140 feet deep and over 4,300 feet long. The well and cave system are fed by an artesian spring, which is confusing speak for "fancy water," that keeps the water at a perfect 68 degrees, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sounds like a pretty pleasant place to spend a nice afternoon if you happen to find yourself in the middle of Texas.

There are plenty of things to be afraid of, like your family getting a good, long look at your internet history or sitting in an Alabama jail for illegal use of confetti. If there's anything we'd like to think we can count on to be not terrifying, it's the sky above our heads and the ground beneath our feet. Unfortunately, there are plenty of things to be scared of there, too. Not only does a weird amount of freaky stuff tend to fall from the sky, but it's entirely possible the ground could open up and swallow you. It could literally happen any minute now. Not kidding.

According to the United States Geological Survey, sinkholes are primarily caused by groundwater eroding the rock below the land surface, and they are particularly prevalent in areas where said rock is carbonate, salt bed, or limestone. They can develop over tens of thousands of years, then reveal themselves in dramatic fashion in mere seconds as the ground finally gives way.