Thar she Blows!

The above photo doesn't look like much, but I assure you...if you were to happen upon it unsuspectingly, it could potentially scare - or pressure wash - the pants right off of you.  This, my friends, is a blowhole.

A blowhole is a rare geologic feature that occurs when water from the ocean bursts up like a geiser through an opening in the land.  This particular hole had about a three foot diameter and when the ocean swell crashed up against the shore, the powerful surge of water would travel through the cavernous limestone, bubble up into a natural funnel and shoot up through the land with tremendous - and startling - pressure. Very cool to see in person.  Isla was mesmerized.

As you can see from the pictures, all sorts of flotsam and jetsam make their way though the hole as well.  The perimeter of this one was littered with random bits plastic, line, mis-matched shoes, natural sponges, shells, sea grass, beach glass and more.  Luckily we didn't see any evidence of anything living coming through the hole...that would be one wild ride, one I'm not sure too many creatures would survive!  

This is essentially what is going on here.  Image from wikipedia 

First, the water starts spraying up slowly...

Then it gets faster and more powerful, with LOTS more water. 

Then the water recedes and waits for the next wave to blast through.

Oh yeah, we're walking now!