Whenever someone calls out, the stream disappears, and after a while, the water flows back again.
The Stream That Disappears at the Sound of Noise
On November 24, 2022, a man from Tran Gia village, Quang Nguyen Township, Sichuan, China, while strolling on Long Mountain, accidentally discovered a strange stream. Unlike any other, this stream disappears whenever there is a loud noise, almost as if it knows how to “sink into the ground.” After a while, the water from the stream starts flowing normally again.
The man had never seen a phenomenon like this before, so he felt a mix of surprise and fear. He walked around the stream to check for anything unusual but found nothing. Therefore, he decided to test it again to see what was really happening. This time, he shouted loudly, and indeed, the stream’s water receded, only to flow out again after a while.
Afterward, the man entered a nearby village to inquire about the stream. The villagers informed him that this stream had existed for a very long time. It originates from the Enle River, and locals often pass by it. When they first discovered the peculiar behavior of the stream, they were just as astonished, but over time, they grew accustomed to the phenomenon of the disappearing water when there was noise. In fact, they even nicknamed it “the shy stream”. Some curious individuals who tasted the water reported that it was very cool, clear, and showed no signs of anything unusual.
Unraveling the Mystery of the Stream
The man filmed a short video and posted it on social media to ask netizens why the water in the stream could recede like that. Immediately, a debate erupted. Many speculations about this stream were raised; some believed it was a supernatural or divine phenomenon. Others suggested that something was “controlling” the stream. Before long, “the shy stream” became famous everywhere. Some geologists visited the site to investigate and find an explanation for this strange phenomenon.
The disappearing stream. (Photo: Sohu)
This stream flows through an area rich in carbonatite rock formations. The layers of carbonatite create pressure that results in numerous cracks on the surface. These cracks resemble capillaries. When it rains or river water seeps into the ground, it forms a depression that leads to the siphon phenomenon.
Groundwater rises to the surface through the cracks, creating a flow. When the stream encounters external vibrations, such as shouting or loud noises, it creates pressure that pushes the water back into the ground. After some time, the water will rise again and flow out.
According to locals, many new roads have been built around the area of the stream. This change has somewhat affected the sensitivity of the stream. Previously, in 2008, during an earthquake in Wenchuan, this stream had also disappeared and later reappeared.
