Periodic Spring
The world's largest known rhythmic spring, in Wyoming's Swift Creek Canyon near Afton, which cycles on and off roughly every 15 minutes through a natural siphon effect rather than geyser activity.
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- Established
- 1894-08
- Location
- Swift Creek Canyon, near Afton, Wyoming
- Country
- United States
- Type
- Rhythmic (intermittent) spring
- Ranking
- World's largest known rhythmic spring, per regional and geological reporting
- Cycle
- Flows for about 15 minutes, then stops for about 15 minutes
- Best viewing
- Late August through November, when water tables are lowest
Overview
Periodic Spring is a rhythmic, or intermittent, spring located about five miles east of Afton, Wyoming, in Swift Creek Canyon. It is reported to be the world’s largest known spring of this kind — only a handful of comparable rhythmic springs are known to exist anywhere. It was discovered in August 1894 by Bruce Gardner, the great-great-grandfather of Olympic wrestler Rulon Gardner, while he was logging in the canyon (Cowboy State Daily).
How it works
The spring cycles on and off at fairly regular intervals, typically flowing for about 15 minutes before shutting down for a similar period. University of Utah hydrologist Kip Solomon explains the mechanism as a natural siphon: “As groundwater flows continuously into a cavern, it fills a narrow tube that leads out. As it pours over the high point of the tube, it creates a siphon effect, sucking water out of the chamber. Eventually, air rushes in and breaks the siphon.” University of Utah studies conducted in the mid-2000s found no gas content in the spring’s water, a result that supports the siphon explanation over an alternative theory involving cold-water geyser activity. The most pronounced on-off cycling is visible from late August through November, when regional water tables are at their lowest (Cowboy State Daily).
What this profile does not claim
No source read for this profile gives a precise count of how many comparable rhythmic springs exist worldwide; “only a handful” is reported here as a general description, not an exact figure.
Timeline
- 1894-08
- Discovered by Bruce Gardner — the great-great-grandfather of Olympic wrestler Rulon Gardner — while logging in the canyon.
- 2000s (mid-decade)
- University of Utah studies find no gas content in the spring's water, supporting a siphon-based explanation over a cold-water-geyser theory.
Sources
1 source (1 tier 2), each opened and read against the claim it supports. Every source is independent of the subject; no first-party material is cited. See the source policy.
The single source below was fetched and read in full; it is an independent Wyoming news outlet's feature on the spring, not a tourism or government listing, and includes an on-record explanation from a University of Utah hydrologist.
- Periodic Spring In Star Valley Is World's Largest On-Again, Off-Again Stream Supports: The spring's location, its 1894 discovery by Bruce Gardner, its status as the world's largest known rhythmic spring, hydrologist Kip Solomon's explanation of the siphon mechanism, the mid-2000s University of Utah gas-content findings, and best-viewing guidance.
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