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ProLicks t1_j0c6x70 wrote

Ooh, next time you're there, post a picture of what's in the Devil's medicine cabinet. I bet he's got the good meds.

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autoposting_system t1_j0c7g19 wrote

Man, people in the 1800s loved calling stuff "The devil's ______". If you hike in nature a lot you run into this kind of crap all the time.

There's a devil's millhopper in Florida. It's just a big sinkhole. Stairway, waterfall: fill in the blank.

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dankmeeeem t1_j0cqtkm wrote

Sadly the "Devil's ____" name comes from settlers who would conflate native tribal rituals or sacred sites with devil worship.

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BarnabyWoods t1_j0cza8n wrote

Just read a novel in which this exact place was featured: Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver.

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autoposting_system t1_j0d33o4 wrote

You know what's fun is the "Garden of the Gods". There's a Garden of the Gods in Colorado, and a different one in I think Kansas or someplace, and there's probably several others.

The one in Colorado is unbelievably amazing and fantastic

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Ch1ck3nPuff69 t1_j0d5obc wrote

It is absolutely gorgeous. Wrong name, that shodnt have to stick. Nothing Devilish about it. How about" Fairy Toilet" I'd still bathe In. It

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Iuffysenpai t1_j0drcui wrote

The right side of this image looks like a hawk to me

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wclancy09 t1_j0dz84d wrote

While I don't doubt there is some element of this going on, I would point out that there is a "Devil's Cauldron" in Lydford Gorge, Devon, UK - one that to anybody familiar with the area, the above image could be very reminiscent of.

Now, that doesn't detract from your later comment, and that there absolutely should be an effort to reinstate/formally adopt the native names where they existed in the US...but it may be an explanation as to where some of those places may have got names that aren't rooted in colonialist bigotry.

In some cases it could be as simple as the people finding these places (particularly in the eastern US/older states) were reminded of something from 'home' and named it as such (and that pattern would hold as you expand west, with the next example being named after it's eastern US counterpart). It's why you have so many towns and cities sharing names with European (and especially English) towns and cities too.

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fayshey t1_j0dzx9y wrote

Devils Bathtub plays an important role in Barbara Kingsolver’s book, Demon Copperhead. So cool to see a photo and that it completely matches the book’s description

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cerebralvenom t1_j0e41bn wrote

I grew up not too far from there. It’s cool to see it posted here, and I’m glad you enjoyed it. If you’re ever down that way again, I recommend the Channels in Rosedale, VA!

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JustBoredIsAll t1_j0e4hlp wrote

Why couldn't this be named "the angels butthole" or something cool?

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parkerxo t1_j0e7442 wrote

Having grown up in Duffield, if you knew the area of Bible Belt it’s in you’d understand the name, lol.

Also, it’s named Devils Bathtub because it’s off of Devils Fork trail. There’s also another steep hilly road that may or not be accessible in Duffield called Devils Race Path!

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autoposting_system t1_j0eamlo wrote

Yeah I'm pretty sure that's the one I'm thinking of. I kind of passed through that area of the country and went to one there, and then shortly thereafter I went to the one in Colorado.

Very, very different places. That one was nice too though

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Meat_Sarcasm_Guy t1_j0edx68 wrote

Why is it called the Devil's Bathtub? Do you burst into flames when you get in, or does it drag you to hell... ? I mean, there must be some kind of reason it's name this, right?

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asuitandty t1_j0eie6w wrote

I don’t know about this, I was reliably told that the devil went down to Georgia.

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punkalibra t1_j0emudo wrote

Oh cool, this is local to me! And I've still never been to it (although I've always wanted to - it's a long hike from what I've heard!)

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Fearthedoodoo t1_j0enmml wrote

I’d build my C.A.M.P there . Good spot for a water purifier.

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a_filing_cabinet t1_j0epp55 wrote

Devil's Kettle on the Brule River is a sinkhole that swallows half the river and the water just disappears. For the longest time it was a huge mystery where the water went, as there was no obvious outlet. Speculation ranged from cave networks to underground aquifers we're abundant, until in 2017 it was proven that the water flow above the falls was equal to the flow going into Lake Superior.

Now the only question is where the water rejoins the rest of the river.

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_Thoth t1_j0eqouq wrote

Looks like devils bathtub in Spearfish, South Dakota here

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tyrostar t1_j0evswt wrote

Devil's this Devil's that. Cool Pool is what I'll call it.

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ArkiMage t1_j0ew3fs wrote

Out and back, just over a mile. Although you do have to cross the creek a dozen+ times. Closer to 8 miles if the full loop is hiked, but certainly not necessary.

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GypsyDarkEyes t1_j0ewarx wrote

Why give the devil this great pool? Let's take it back! Who's with me?

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Notademocrat17 t1_j0exwyg wrote

Hey we’ve got one of those in South Dakota

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snash222 t1_j0f080e wrote

Yes, it is like 45 minutes of a hike in the woods, then you hit the boulders. It is a lot of work getting up, you don’t need gear or anything, just sneakers and water and sunscreen.

I have never made it to the very top. But maybe 3/4 way up. Not a magnificent view like Peaks of Otter, Mcaffee’s Knob and Dragons Tooth, but beautiful and worth it.

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shittysoprano t1_j0f5yhg wrote

I actually went for the first time a few months ago as a local haha. The hike to the tub itself isn’t too bad- just a bit cumbersome depending on the time of year and rain amounts. The important thing is making sure you go left at the fork and not right onto the full loop. Definitely go early and bring more water than you think.

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_DarkAmethyst_ t1_j0f61yz wrote

Bro did you get to swim inside this awesome place?

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Monika_Corleone t1_j0f7ohl wrote

I’m in bed looking at this picture and it made me extremely comfortable and cosy. I guess I wouldn’t want to be swimming in this hole

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nzdennis t1_j0f9uxe wrote

There ain't nothin like smokin the devil's lettuce in the devil's bathtub of a hot day, y'all!

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ripenunderwater t1_j0fcy0r wrote

Can we swim here? Looks like a nice spot to chill

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Vanrainy1 t1_j0fd9cu wrote

Call it what you like, it looks like a heavenly swimmin' hole.

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l3gg0myEGg0 t1_j0g3vro wrote

Damn, god really said “I’ll let this one slide satan”

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hummelbummeldummel t1_j0ge9hu wrote

What a great unedited true piece of joy when you need a cooling in the summer months. now imagine this with with thermal water.

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DryGoat1 t1_j0gs8up wrote

This place looks heavenly why it gotta be the ‘Devils’ bathtub?

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whatimjustsaying t1_j0h9j2s wrote

It's very common in Ireland too. In Celtic/Pictish legend, they often attributed strange geologies to battles between gods, or heroes. For example, the giants causeway in Northern Ireland. There is also a mountain somewhere around Louth where Cu Chulainn took the top off a mountain fighting another warrior with a sling.

In later years, Christian folklore replaced the pagans with Saints and the devil. There is a mountain in the midlands somewhere with a big dip in the middle if two peaks, and it's named after st. Patrick, because the devil there tried to jump on him and kill him, but he missed and took out the mountain instead.

So I would agree with your sentiment that settlers named them like they would places back home - but through the lens that abnormal natural features are made by devils when they battle saints/god/Jesus.

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Berryfly04 OP t1_j0i2gxe wrote

There's a nice little swimming area right before you reach the bathtub, but it's usually crowded. The bathtub itself is 8x20 feet and 12 foot deep. Not big enough to actually swim, but you can jump in.

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