The appearance of strange "man-eating" holes at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore has scientists scratching their heads in confusion. The entire Mount Baldy area has been closed off until further notice due to the dangerous holes in the sand.
The mysterious sand holes have already caused a panic last summer when a six-year-old boy named Nathan Woessner was sucked into a sand hole while he was walking around Mount Baldy. The young Nathan was buried until 11 feet of sand making the rescue difficult. The boy was rescued from the hole but it took rescuers three hours to get him out.
Since Nathan Woessner's encounter with the "man-eating" sand hole, more holes have appeared prompting the National Park Service (NPS) to close off the area to prevent further accidents from happening.
"Mount Baldy is one of the most visited sites in the national lakeshore, attracting thousands of visitors each year but the continued development of these holes in the dune surface poses a serious risk to the public," said Acting Superintendent Garry Traynham, the acting superintendent from the NPS. "Our first obligation must be to the welfare of our visitors who are here for an enjoyable outing."
Scientists have already investigated the site using ground penetrating radar and other methods of investigation. However, little is currently known about what caused the holes to suddenly appear. Since July last year, state authorities have already investigated two holes. While the NPS is still mystified because of the holes, a follow up investigation is planned this coming summer.
During the first investigation, the scientists analyzed the data gathered using ground penetrating radar. They found that there were certain anomalies under Mount Baldy. However, experts are still trying to understand whether the anomalies were connected to the sudden appearance of the holes. The holes don't really last long making it difficult for the investigators. After a hole suddenly appears, the hole remains open for less than a day eventually collapsing and being buried under the sand.
To prevent the situation from worsening, the NPS has started planting marram grass on the large dune. This type of grass can often keep dunes more stable since the roots of the plants can keep the sand together. The NPS authorities believe that the grass could help prevent more holes from appearing.
Mount Baldy is a popular tourist attraction during the summer. However, authorities say that the upcoming investigation may last well into fall so the area will be closed during peak season.
