Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States California Napa Monticello Dam Morning Glory Spillway

Monticello Dam Morning Glory Spillway

The largest drain hole in the world.

Napa, California

Added By
Jehuty
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
  kimrad / Atlas Obscura User
  Photo by Jeff Carlson
Where the water exits  
  kimrad / Atlas Obscura User
  kimrad / Atlas Obscura User
  Dapper Dan 9 / Atlas Obscura User
The Glory Hole, June 19, 2016   dave8 / Atlas Obscura User
Dry at lower water level.   Dapper Dan 9 / Atlas Obscura User
Lake Berryessa Glory Hole Spillway   http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5...
  Dapper Dan 9 / Atlas Obscura User
  Dapper Dan 9 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Located at the Monticello Dam at Lake Berryessa in Northern California, this gigantic drain acts as the lake's spillway.

Technically known as the Morning Glory Spillway it is locally, somewhat more colorfully, known as "The Glory Hole." When the dam reaches capacity, the spillway swallows water at a rate of 48,800 cubic feet per second, emptying about 700 feet away through an enormous concrete pipe. Not a safe place to swim, in 1997, a UC Davis graduate student was pulled into the glory hole while swimming and drowned.

The dam and spillway were constructed between 1953 and 1957, choking off Putah Creek and drowning the remains of the town of Monticello. At very low water levels, the foundations of the town can be seen in parts of the lake. The outside diameter is 72 feet, slowly narrowing to 28 feet at the exit. While this is the largest drain of its kind, there are other Glory Hole spillways around the world, including one in Whiskeytown Lake, and in Northern California.

Daring skateboarders have been known to use the exit of the spillway as a ramp in the dry season.

You can see the Glory Hole from the lake, but it is cordoned off from boaters and swimmers for safety reasons.

Related Tags

Strange Science Water Peculiar Fountains Optical Oddities

Know Before You Go

Best seen during the rainy season when the lake is full.

Community Contributors

Added By

Jehuty

Edited By

mbison, Annetta Black, dave8, Dapper Dan 9...

  • mbison
  • Annetta Black
  • dave8
  • Dapper Dan 9
  • kimrad

Published

August 13, 2009

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • <cite>"For obvious reasons, swimming near the glory hole is both prohibited and stupid. There are buoys strung across the lake to discourage boaters and swimmers from approaching the glory hole and the dam. Furthermore, the glory hole is well fenced off from the land. In 1997, a UC Davis graduate student was pulled into the glory hole while swimming and drowned"</cite>
  • http://daviswiki.org/Morning_Glory_Spillway
  • Construction photos
  • http://www.trophybassonly.com/id56.htm
  • Lake Berryessa Info
  • http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ccao/berryessa/index.html
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monticello_Dam
  • http://www.geekologie.com/2007/02/largest_drain_hole_in_the_worl.php
  • Sad to say, but the woman who was a UC Davis graduate, was not "swimming" for pleasure when she entered the glory hole. She committed suicide. It happened during the cold of winter and no one was swimming in Lake Berryessa at the time.
  • Sad to say, but the woman who was a UC Davis graduate, was not "swimming" for pleasure when she entered the glory hole. She committed suicide. It happened during the cold of winter and no one was swimming in Lake Berryessa at the time.
  • February 20th, 2017. Currently over the top for the first time in 11 years.
Monticello Dam Morning Glory Spillway
Lake Berryessa
Napa, California, 94558
United States
38.512365, -122.104905
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Sam Spade's Office

Winters, California

miles away

The Lonely Parking Meter

Winters, California

miles away

Consolidated Rock & Minerals: The Rock Shop

Vacaville, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Napa

Napa

California

Places 2
Stories 1

Nearby Places

Sam Spade's Office

Winters, California

miles away

The Lonely Parking Meter

Winters, California

miles away

Consolidated Rock & Minerals: The Rock Shop

Vacaville, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Napa

Napa

California

Places 2
Stories 1

Related Places

  • Gravity Hill starting line.

    Prosser, Washington

    Gravity Hill

    The strange phenomenon causing gravity to "work backwards" on this hill has been blamed on the paranormal.

  • The Water-Powered Mechanical Theater with nearly 200 moving wood carvings

    Salzburg, Austria

    Schloss Hellbrunn

    Trick water gardens from 1619 featuring a 200 piece mechanical theater powered by water.

  • Electric Ladyland in full color.

    Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Electric Ladyland: The Museum of Fluorescent Art

    The world's only museum devoted to the wonders of fluorescence.

  • Gurdon, Arkansas

    The Gurdon Light

    A mysterious light floating in the trees of Arkansas may be a piezoelectric effect.

  • Stick your feet in!

    Berkeley Springs, West Virginia

    George Washington's Bathtub

    Berkeley Hot Springs presents to you "the only outdoor monument to presidential bathing."

  • Holtålen, Norway

    Hessdalen AMS

    Research station devoted to mysterious floating lights seen in a Norwegian valley.

  • The globe-shaped planetarium

    Rhinelander, Wisconsin

    Kovac Planetarium

    One extremely determined man's homemade universe.

  • Edinburgh’s oldest purpose built visitor attraction, The Camera Obscura on the Royal Mile

    Edinburgh, Scotland

    Camera Obscura & World of Illusions

    360° views of the city plus five floors of optical illusions and hands-on science.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.