One Of The Oddest Geological Wonders Is Located Right Here In West Virginia

West Virginia is home to many cool caves and rock formations, but you've probably never seen one quite like this! A natural tunnel was formed by a creek flowing through the rocks, and created a strangely beautiful formation.

The Sinks of Gandy is a mile-long natural tunnel in Randolph County, West Virginia. Gandy Creek flows right into the rocks of Yokum Knob before disappearing into the ground.

The Sinks were named for Uriah Gandy, who settled in the area around 1781.

The sinks became well known to people in the area by 1833. The cave was featured in an adventure story published by David Hunter Strother in Harper’s Magazine in 1873.

Gandy Creek flows through the tunnel for about 3,000 feet before disappearing into the ground.

The creek later reemerges across the county, and eventually flows into the Dry Fork River.

Spelunkers can emerge from a dry opening further into the tunnel.

You can see more images of both the inside and the outside of the Sinks of Gandy in this Youtube video. Photography is by Anne Johnson.

The Sinks of Gandy are located on private property, so don't explore without permission.

For more interesting geology in West Virginia, check out Lost World Caverns near Lewisburg, WV.