Lost River (Indiana) facts for kids
The Lost River is a unique river in Indiana that starts in Washington County and flows into the East Fork of the White River. What makes it special is its unusual way of flowing, with large parts of it disappearing underground! Because of this, two parts of the river have been named National Natural Landmarks, which are special places protected for their natural beauty and importance.
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What Makes the Lost River Special?
The Lost River is about 87 miles (140 km) long. It gets its name because at least 23 miles (37 km) of the river actually flows completely underground! Imagine a river that just vanishes into the ground.
The underground paths of the river might stretch for hundreds of miles, but no one has fully explored all the hidden caves and tunnels. The river disappears into many holes in the ground called sinkholes. These sinkholes are very common in the karstland of southern Indiana. Karst is a type of landscape where the ground is made of soft rock like limestone, which water can easily dissolve, creating caves and sinkholes. In some areas, you can find over a thousand sinkholes in just one square mile!
The river flows into and out of these sinkholes at different spots. It connects with many other hidden streams and springs underground.
Where Does the River Start and Go Underground?
The Lost River begins like a normal river in Washington County. But soon, it flows over and into a limestone bed. The water then gets soaked into the limestone and sinks below the surface, going into a hidden cave.
The river then travels underground through a network of caves and channels. It passes under parts of Orleans Township, Paoli Township, and Orangeville Township.
Where Does the River Come Back Up?
The Lost River reappears on the surface near the village of Orangeville. Here, it creates a spring that is 165 feet (50 meters) deep. The very bottom of this spring connects to the actual underground river. This spring is called the True Rise, and it's the second largest spring in Indiana!
After rising in Orangeville, the river continues to flow above ground towards the west.
The Vanishing Act: Sinkholes Near Orleans
Most of the time, unless there's a big flood, the Lost River vanishes again into a series of sinkholes. These sinkholes are found in a river bed near Indiana State Road 337, about four miles (6 km) east of Orleans.
The main sinkholes where the river disappears are called the Stein Swallowhole, the Turner Swallowhole, and the largest one, the Tolliver Swallowhole. After going underground here, the river flows to a special place called the National Natural Landmark Wesley Chapel Gulf.
Wesley Chapel Gulf
Wesley Chapel Gulf is a large sinkhole, about 8.3 acres (3.4 hectares) in size. It looks like a box canyon with bedrock walls that are 30 to 100 feet (9 to 30 meters) high. Here, the Lost River briefly appears on the surface before disappearing underground once more.
The Final Journey
As the river gets closer to southern Martin County, it finally resurfaces from another sinkhole. Once it's back above ground for good, it flows westward past West Baden Springs and French Lick. Finally, the Lost River flows into the East Fork of the White River.
Exploring the Underground River
The Lost River and its smaller streams likely flow through many different underground channels in the Orleans-Paoli area. Most of these channels haven't been fully mapped or understood yet. Many sinkholes, some quite large, show where the underground river and its various paths might be.
Some scientists think that the Lost River might be carving out a cave system as big as the famous Mammoth Cave system in nearby Kentucky!
Since 1996, a group of explorers called the St. Joseph Valley Grotto has been mapping the passages of what they now call the Lost River System. As of July 2008, this cave system is about 20.91 miles (33.65 km) long. This makes it the second longest cave in Indiana and the 26th longest in the United States!
When the River Flows Above Ground
Even though the Lost River usually flows underground, it also has a dry riverbed on the surface. During times of heavy rain or floods, the underground channels can become completely full of water. When this happens, part of the Lost River will flow in its surface bed, just like a normal river.
National Natural Landmarks
Two important features of the Lost River have been recognized as National Natural Landmarks. This means they are special natural places protected by the National Park Service.
Wesley Chapel Gulf
The Wesley Chapel Gulf is located in eastern Orangeville Township. It's an 8.3-acre (3.4-hectare) sinkhole that formed when the rock roof over one of the Lost River's underground channels collapsed. It's part of the Hoosier National Forest. In 1972, Wesley Chapel Gulf was officially named a National Natural Landmark.
Orangeville Rise
The Orangeville Rise is in central Orangeville Township. This is a spring where water comes up from one of the underground paths of the Lost River. It's like a natural fountain that feeds into the Lost River.
