The Blue Hole is located in the Pinelands of

Monroe Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey Monroe Township is a Township (New Jersey), township in Gloucester County, New Jersey, Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 37,117, an increase of 988 (+2.7%) fro ...

and Winslow Township, Camden County, New Jersey. It is a clear blue body of water situated in the middle of a dense forest, with many similar such lakes in its immediate vicinity. The water has warm and cold spots, averaging 58 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The lake's color is unusual, as most lakes and ponds in the area are brownish due to large deposits of

bog iron Bog iron is a form of impure iron deposit that develops in bogs or swamps by the chemical or biochemical oxidation of iron carried in solution. In general, bog ores consist primarily of iron oxyhydroxides, commonly goethite (FeO(OH)). Iron-bea ...

and the presence of

tannic acid Tannic acid is a specific form of tannin, a type of polyphenol. Its weak acidity ( pKa around 6) is due to the numerous phenol groups in the structure. The chemical formula for commercial tannic acid is often given as C76H52O46, which correspon ...

. The Blue Hole is circular and about across. In the 1930s, the Blue Hole was a popular party and swimming spot. A wooden footbridge over the

Great Egg Harbor River The Great Egg Harbor River is a river in South Jersey.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed April 1, 2011 It is one of the major rivers that traverse the largely pristine ...

that once made the Hole easily accessible was wiped out by a storm in the 1960s; now it can only be reached on foot. The Blue Hole has been largely abandoned. Locals still go to the area and use it as a party spot. There are many other 'blue holes' in the immediate vicinity, as well as

quicksand Quicksand is a colloid A colloid is a mixture in which one substance consisting of microscopically dispersed insoluble particles is suspended throughout another substance. Some definitions specify that the particles must be dispersed in a ...

and other seasonal ponds and lakes that form from springs seeping from high water table levels. The Blue Hole is not to be confused with the numerous former

quarries A quarry is a type of open-pit mine in which dimension stone, rock, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, gravel, or slate is excavated from the ground. The operation of quarries is regulated in some jurisdictions to reduce their environ ...

in the area, which are much larger and have a vibrant sky blue color. At its deepest point, the Blue Hole is The bottom appears to consist of sand rather than mud. Swimming and diving in the Blue Hole are both illegal, but not enforced . It remains a popular swimming spot during the summer.

In popular culture

A number of legends exist about Blue Hole, such that it is bottomless with powerful currents, that the water is freezing cold year-round, and that the

Jersey Devil In South Jersey and Philadelphia folklore in the United States, the Jersey Devil (also known as the Leeds Devil) is a legendary creature said to inhabit the forest of Pine Barrens in South Jersey. The creature is often described as a flying bipe ...

is active in the area. ''Jersey Odysseys: Legend of the Blue Hole'' is a short horror film directed and written by

James Rolfe James D. Rolfe (born July 10, 1980) is an American YouTuber, online personality, filmmaker, and actor. He is best known for creating and starring in the comedic retrogaming web series '' The Angry Video Game Nerd'' (2004–present). His spin-of ...

References

External links

Official site
- NJ DEP; map of the wildlife management area via "Winslow" link
Weird NJ's Legends of the Blue HoleTrip report
(maps, photos, directions)

{{authority control Bodies of water of Camden County, New Jersey Bodies of water of Gloucester County, New Jersey Lakes of New Jersey Landforms of the Pine Barrens (New Jersey) Winslow Township, New Jersey Pine Barrens (New Jersey)