The Story of the Bottomless Pit
On February 21, 1997, a Washington resident named Mel Waters called into the Coast to Coast AM radio show with Art Bell, making bizarre claims. Waters said he had discovered a bottomless pit with extraordinary powers. Over several calls, his descriptions grew increasingly strange. The story quickly gained traction, prompting many to search for the pit. However, the pit was never found, and geologists believe such a structure is impossible.
Waters never gave an exact location for the pit but said it was about 9 miles west of Ellensburg, Kittitas County, Washington. According to him, the pit was well-known and had been used as a dumping ground by locals for centuries. Early settlers in the area allegedly called it the "Devil's Pit."
In his initial call, Waters said his dogs were afraid of the pit and would not go near it. Curious, he decided to test its depth. Waters claimed he used a fishing line and a weight but failed to reach the bottom even after letting out 80,000 feet of line.
During subsequent appearances on the show in 1997, 2000, and 2002, Waters made even more outlandish claims. He alleged that the pit had the power of resurrection. Waters' neighbor had reportedly thrown his dead dog into the pit, only to see it wandering in the woods days later. Although it seemed unaware of its owner, it wore the collar of the deceased dog.
Debunking the Impossible Pit
Waters' story gained significant attention, and in 2002, a group of 30 people traveled to Ellensburg to search for the pit. They returned home empty-handed. Local reporters investigating the story also found no record of anyone named Mel Waters living in the area or owning property in Kittitas County.
Science provides the most compelling evidence that the pit was a hoax. While the Earth's crust is not uniform, on average, it is 30 miles thick on land and can reach a maximum of 62 miles in some mountain ranges. This means that Waters' pit would have been nearly a quarter of the way through the Earth's thickest crust, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
According to Jack Powell, a geologist for the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, the pit is not only unlikely but impossible. He explained that the immense heat and pressure from the surrounding rock would cause a pit that size to collapse in on itself. Powell suggested that an abandoned mine shaft is the more likely inspiration for the story. There used to be gold mining in the area, and several shafts have been found that could have been the basis for Waters' claim.
Another geologist, Pat Pringle, pointed out that any line intended to reach a depth of 80,000 feet would break long before that due to extreme temperatures. Additionally, Waters' other bizarre claims, such as resurrected dogs and transmuting metals, are scientifically impossible.
Summary
In conclusion, the "bottomless pit" described by Mel Waters is widely believed to be a hoax. Despite extensive searches, no evidence of the pit has ever been found. Scientific analysis and geological evidence strongly suggest that such a structure could not exist. It is likely that Waters' story was inspired by an abandoned mine shaft or other local folklore.