<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.2963" name=GENERATOR></HEAD> <BODY> <DIV>Scientists Study Mysterious River<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> John Hollenhorst Reporting                                      <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:date Month="11" Day="17" Year="2006">November 17th, 2006</st1:date> @ <st1:time Minute="37" Hour="21">9:37pm</st1:time><o:p></o:p> Imagine a pristine mountain stream that turns on and off every few minutes, all by itself. Believe it or not, there is such a <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Mystery</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>River</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> not far from here, one of only two in the entire world. Now, <st1:place><st1:PlaceType>University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName>Utah</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> scientists have new evidence that may explain how the phenomenon works. <o:p></o:p> It's not a big river. It's an icy mountain stream. But a few minutes later, it's gone. And a few minutes after that, it's back. <o:p></o:p> Gerald Vanbrunt, Arkansas Tourist: "This is just as good as <st1:place>Old Faithful</st1:place>." <o:p></o:p> <A title=http://media.bonnint.net/slc/48/4836/483607.jpg href="http://media.bonnint.net/slc/48/4836/483607.jpg"><IMG title=http://media.bonnint.net/slc/48/4836/483607.jpg height=141 src="cid:750185422@18112006-0631" width=233 border=0 v:shapes="_x0000_i1033"></A>                 <A title=http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=654826# href="http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=654826#"><IMG title=http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=654826# height=141 alt=mystery_river.jpg src="cid:750185422@18112006-0638" width=234 border=0 v:shapes="big_picture_replacement"></A><o:p></o:p> But it's not a geyser; it's fed by a cold-water spring. In fall and winter it has a natural cycle, about 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off. <o:p></o:p> The only other spring like it in the world is in <st1:country-region><st1:place>France</st1:place></st1:country-region>. It's a point of pride in nearby <st1:place><st1:City>Afton</st1:City>, <st1:State>Wyoming</st1:State></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p> Al Hale, <st1:place><st1:City>Afton</st1:City>, <st1:State>Wyo.</st1:State></st1:place> Resident: "Well the folklore is that the Indians were the first ones to see this phenomenon." <o:p></o:p> Just before it erupts, the spring emits a deep gurgling noise. A rising puddle quickly becomes a surprisingly vigorous roaring creek. <o:p></o:p> Kip Solomon, <st1:place><st1:PlaceType>University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName>Utah Hydrologist</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>: "Well, everything about this spring is somewhat surprising. It's an extremely unusual occurrence." <o:p></o:p> The town of <st1:City><st1:place>Afton</st1:place></st1:City> built a structure to protect their water supply. It's very cold, very pure, and it tastes good. It's won national awards. <o:p></o:p> Rulon Gardner, Olympic Gold Medalist: "Of course! You know, <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Star</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>Valley</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> water. It's the best in the world." <o:p></o:p> Olympic gold medalist Rulon Gardner's great-great grand-dad is credited with the discovery. <o:p></o:p> Rulon Gardner, Olympic Gold Medalist: "He was up there logging. He went up and found a nice little place to get some fresh water. It was intermittent. It went, and stopped. So it was pretty amazing." <o:p></o:p> <A title=http://media.bonnint.net/slc/48/4836/483609.jpg href="http://media.bonnint.net/slc/48/4836/483609.jpg"><IMG title=http://media.bonnint.net/slc/48/4836/483609.jpg height=137 src="cid:750185422@18112006-063F" width=202 border=0 v:shapes="_x0000_i1034"></A>                               <A title=http://media.bonnint.net/slc/48/4836/483608.jpg href="http://media.bonnint.net/slc/48/4836/483608.jpg"><IMG title=http://media.bonnint.net/slc/48/4836/483608.jpg height=135 src="cid:750185422@18112006-0646" width=202 border=0 v:shapes="_x0000_i1035"></A><o:p></o:p> In late summer, scientists collected water samples. They're exploring an old theory involving a mysterious underground chamber. <o:p></o:p> Prof. Kip Solomon: "We can't think of another explanation at the moment." Here's the theory: As groundwater flows continuously into a cavern, it fills a narrow tube that leads out. As it pours over the <st1:City><st1:place>high point</st1:place></st1:City> of the tube, it creates a siphon effect, sucking water out of the chamber. Eventually air rushes in and breaks the siphon. <o:p></o:p> Gerald Vanbrunt, Arkansas Tourist: "It's kind of like a toilet flushing. All the water goes out, it fills back up, and goes back out." <o:p></o:p> The spring water's gas content has now been tested at the <st1:place><st1:PlaceType>University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName>Utah</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>. The data strongly suggests the water was exposed to air underground; strong support for the siphon theory. <o:p></o:p> Prof. Kip Solomon: "Yeah, I think that we're a step closer to the answer." <o:p></o:p> Someday, science may have a definitive answer. For now, we can just enjoy the natural wonder of an on-again, off-again, mystery river. <o:p></o:p> The intermittent spring is at the end of a half-mile hike, in a canyon straight east of <st1:place><st1:City>Afton</st1:City>, <st1:State>Wyoming</st1:State></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></DIV></BODY></HTML>