ChiKat

Like most Chicagoans, I've been thinking about potholes lately. None of us are in danger of hydroplaning, because there simply isn't enough smooth surface area. The roads are riddled with axel-snapping potholes that are practically deep enough to reach Earth's mantle.

I understand that potholes form when water gets into the pavement, and then expands when it freezes. That weakens the pavement, causing cracks that eventually break into potholes.

What I don't understand is this: where does all the asphalt GO? Once there was a road, now there is a pothole strewn obstacle course, but I don't see any loose gravel. It has to be elves. Little asphalt-eating elves must come out at night and consume all the loose gravel. Clearly, there has been a population explosion of these elves. That is the only thing that can explain these inexplicably gravel-free potholes.