# Have you ever seen a bell-mouth spillway? (aka a “Glory Hole”) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 1, 2025, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-a-bell-mouth-spillway-aka-a-glory-hole/1016480 "2025-04-01T23:43:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-a-bell-mouth-spillway-aka-a-glory-hole/1016480/61 "2025-04-07T08:42:43Z")
That duck got sucked. He’s fucked. That must’ve been a helluva ride out to the other end. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-a-bell-mouth-spillway-aka-a-glory-hole/1016480/62 "2025-04-07T12:17:47Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Farther north in California, Whiskeytown Lake near Redding has one, too → [https://maps.app.goo.gl/XV33qxA5UB3wUHjh7](https://maps.app.goo.gl/XV33qxA5UB3wUHjh7). Cool, thanks for that. > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > There’s an asterisk in Armenia. And thanks for that one. Updated list, now with 13 shaft spillways — ⚫ Armenia, Vayotsʼ Dzor Province (eastern Vayotsʼ Dzor, eastern Armenia) ▲ 39.7907, 45.6506 at the Kechut Dam impounding the Arpa River, creating the Kech’uti Jrambar (Kechut Reservoir) ∘ A flower shaped spillway ∘ Kechut Dam, as per ➜ [Armenians changing the world](https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1168672240215049&id=238966983185584) ■ ⚫ Australia, New South Wales, near Mount Kosciuszko (southeast New South Wales, southeast Australia) ▲ -36.30585, 148.3159 at the Geehi Dam impounding the Geehi River, creating Geehi Reservoir ∘ The widest in the world, at 105’ ⚫ England, Derbyshire (northern Derbyshire, central England) ▲ 53.366, -1.6987 and ▲ 53.3664, -1.704 at the Ladybower Dam impounding the River Derwent (and River Ashop and Ladybower Brook), creating Ladybower Reservoir ∘ Two shaft spillways at this dam; they are about 400 yards apart ⚫ Portugal, Guarda District (southwest Guarda District in central Portugal) ▲ 40.3639, -7.6109 at the dam, Barragem de Covão do Meio, impounding the river, Ribeira da Nave, creating Covão dos Conchos reservoir ∘ This shaft spillway is built to look like a natural formation. ⚫ Portugal, Santarém District (northeast Santarém, central Portugal) ▲ 39.566, -7.8116 at the dam, Barragem da Pracana, impounding the river, Rio Ocreza, creating Albufeira de Barragem da Pracana (Pracana Dam Reservoir) ∘ Pic on FB ➜ [https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10212774361976906](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10212774361976906) ■ ⚫ USA, California (northern California) ▲ 38.5122, -122.1049 at the Monticello Dam impounding Putah Creek, creating Lake Berryessa ∘ 72’ diameter ∘ My pics ➜ [Pretty cool! Have you ever seen a bell-mouth spillway? - Album on Imgur](https://imgur.com/gallery/Q1SCVqh) ■ ∘ Drone flight through it ➜ [https://youtu.be/4TCWs-QfJV8&t=2m22s](https://youtu.be/4TCWs-QfJV8&t=2m22s) ■ ⚫ USA, California (northern California) ▲ 40.6006, -122.5365 at the Whiskeytown Dam impounding Clear Creek, creating Whiskeytown Lake ∘ 24’ diameter, ⅓ the diameter @ Lake Berryessa ⚫ USA, Oregon, Malheur County (southeast Oregon) ▲ 43.642, -117.2413 at the Owyhee Dam impounding the Owyhee River, creating Owyhee Reservoir ⚫ USA, Montana, Flathead County (northwest Montana) ▲ 48.3434, -114.0125 at Hungry Horse Dam impounding the South Fork Flathead River, creating Hungry Horse Reservoir ∘ It is the highest one in the world (as per wiki) at 3,560’ above sea level ⚫ USA, Montana, Lewis and Clark County (western Montana) ▲ 47.6022, -112.762 at Gibson Dam impounding the Sun River, creating Gibson Reservoir ⚫ Wales (southeast Wales) ▲ 51.798, -3.3656 at a 110ft high embankment impounding the Taf Fechan of the River Taff, creating the Pontsticill Reservoir (or, Cronfa Ddŵr Pontsticill; formerly the Taff Fechan Reservoir) ⚫ Zimbabwe (southeast Zimbabwe) ▲ -20.726, 30.898 at the Tugwi Mukosi Dam impounding the Tokwe River, creating the Tugwi-Mukosi Reservoir. ∘ It is spilling right now. Do we have any Dopers in Zimbabwe? ➜ [https://www.herald.co.zw/tugwi-mukosi-dam-now-spilling](https://www.herald.co.zw/tugwi-mukosi-dam-now-spilling) ■ ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-a-bell-mouth-spillway-aka-a-glory-hole/1016480/63 "2025-04-07T12:24:16Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > The sensation of being drawn towards a point-of-no-return crisis is palpable. Found this via a search for fatal encounters with a Bell Mouth Spillway: “Emily Schwalen died in 1997 after being swept down the “Glory Hole” spillway at Monticello Dam (Lake Berryessa) after being caught in the current while swimming near it.” ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-a-bell-mouth-spillway-aka-a-glory-hole/1016480/64 "2025-04-07T12:34:22Z")
Now there’s a Darwin Award. The initial drop of the spillway is 200 feet, and its entire length is 700 feet. Brutal. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-a-bell-mouth-spillway-aka-a-glory-hole/1016480/65 "2025-04-07T17:57:32Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Farther north in California, Whiskeytown Lake near Redding has one, too > [@Bullitt](#): > > Now there’s a Darwin Award. The initial drop of the spillway is 200 feet, and its entire length is 700 feet. If you look at Google Streetview at the one **WildaBeast** linked to there’s a big sign at the mouth of the spillway: **DANGER!** STAY ALIVE BY STAYING OUT ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2025, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-a-bell-mouth-spillway-aka-a-glory-hole/1016480/66 "2025-04-07T20:06:54Z")
Like the old trope of going over Niagara Falls in a barrel, I wonder if anyone ever deliberately went down a bell-mouth spillway in some contraption designed to let them survive the trip. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2025, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-a-bell-mouth-spillway-aka-a-glory-hole/1016480/67 "2025-04-08T14:19:05Z")
The Harriman Reservoir in Wilmington, Vermont has one. I’ve seen it and it’s really cool. In one of the mystery novels by Archer Mayor, the main character goes down into it. [The Underwater Underside of Vermont](https://www.criminalelement.com/the-underwater-underside-of-vermont/) ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2025, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-a-bell-mouth-spillway-aka-a-glory-hole/1016480/68 "2025-04-09T16:43:59Z")
Oh man I was just near there! A few months ago, anyway. I was in Vernon VT. And I live near San Francisco. I don’t know when next I’ll be there (I’m from the northeast) but for now it’s marked on my map. Thanks for that. I don’t know if I’ll keep updating my list but for now I did. **Shaft spillways** ⚫ Armenia, Vayotsʼ Dzor Province (eastern Vayotsʼ Dzor, eastern Armenia) ▲ 39.7907, 45.6506 at the Kechut Dam impounding the Arpa River, creating the Kech’uti Jrambar (Kechut Reservoir) ∘ A flower shaped spillway ∘ Kechut Dam, as per ➜ [Armenians changing the world](https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1168672240215049&id=238966983185584) ■ ⚫ Australia, New South Wales, near Mount Kosciuszko (southeast New South Wales, southeast Australia) ▲ -36.30585, 148.3159 at the Geehi Dam impounding the Geehi River, creating Geehi Reservoir ∘ The widest in the world, at 105’ ⚫ England, Derbyshire (northern Derbyshire, central England) ▲ 53.366, -1.6987 and ▲ 53.3664, -1.704 at the Ladybower Dam impounding the River Derwent (and River Ashop and Ladybower Brook), creating Ladybower Reservoir ∘ Two shaft spillways at this dam; they are about 400 yards apart ⚫ Portugal, Guarda District (southwest Guarda District in central Portugal) ▲ 40.3639, -7.6109 at the dam, Barragem de Covão do Meio, impounding the river, Ribeira da Nave, creating Covão dos Conchos reservoir ∘ This shaft spillway is built to look like a natural formation. ⚫ Portugal, Santarém District (northeast Santarém, central Portugal) ▲ 39.566, -7.8116 at the dam, Barragem da Pracana, impounding the river, Rio Ocreza, creating Albufeira de Barragem da Pracana (Pracana Dam Reservoir) ∘ Pic on FB ➜ [https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10212774361976906](https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10212774361976906) ■ ⚫ USA, California (northern California) ▲ 38.5122, -122.1049 at the Monticello Dam impounding Putah Creek, creating Lake Berryessa ∘ 72’ diameter ∘ My pics ➜ [Pretty cool! Have you ever seen a bell-mouth spillway? - Album on Imgur](https://imgur.com/gallery/Q1SCVqh) ■ ∘ Drone flight through it ➜ [https://youtu.be/4TCWs-QfJV8&t=2m22s](https://youtu.be/4TCWs-QfJV8&t=2m22s) ■ ⚫ USA, California (northern California) ▲ 40.6006, -122.5365 at the Whiskeytown Dam impounding Clear Creek, creating Whiskeytown Lake ∘ 24’ diameter, ⅓ the diameter @ Lake Berryessa ⚫ USA, Montana, Flathead County (northwest Montana) ▲ 48.3434, -114.0125 at Hungry Horse Dam impounding the South Fork Flathead River, creating Hungry Horse Reservoir ∘ It is the highest one in the world (as per wiki) at 3,560’ above sea level ⚫ USA, Montana, Lewis and Clark County (western Montana) ▲ 47.6022, -112.762 at Gibson Dam impounding the Sun River, creating Gibson Reservoir ⚫ USA, Oregon, Malheur County (southeast Oregon) ▲ 43.642, -117.2413 at the Owyhee Dam impounding the Owyhee River, creating Owyhee Reservoir ⚫ USA, Vermont (southern Vermont) ▲ 42.7925, -72.913 at Harriman Dam impounding the Deerfield River, creating Harriman Reservoir ⚫ Wales (southeast Wales) ▲ 51.798, -3.3656 at a 110ft high embankment impounding the Taf Fechan of the River Taff, creating the Pontsticill Reservoir (or, Cronfa Ddŵr Pontsticill; formerly the Taff Fechan Reservoir) ⚫ Zimbabwe (southeast Zimbabwe) ▲ -20.726, 30.898 at the Tugwi Mukosi Dam impounding the Tokwe River, creating the Tugwi-Mukosi Reservoir. ∘ It is spilling right now. Do we have any Dopers in Zimbabwe? ➜ [https://www.herald.co.zw/tugwi-mukosi-dam-now-spilling](https://www.herald.co.zw/tugwi-mukosi-dam-now-spilling) ■ ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-a-bell-mouth-spillway-aka-a-glory-hole/1016480/69 "2025-04-13T20:16:51Z")
I just learned about Monticello Dam and its spillway last night. According to the History Channel, which is not exactly a reliable source, the TPTB expected the spillway to be used once every 50 years. It’s currently more like every 2½ years, thanks to global warming causing more rain in the valley. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-seen-a-bell-mouth-spillway-aka-a-glory-hole/1016480.md?page=3)