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Discover America’s Quietest Spots: Haleakala and Orfield Labs

11/25/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Haleakala Crater in Maui, Hawaii, is among the quietest natural locations in the United States, with ambient sound levels down to 10 dBA, letting visitors hear their heartbeat.
The quietest place on Earth is an anechoic chamber at Orfield Laboratories in Minneapolis, recording -24.9 dB and absorbing 99.99% of sound.
The chamber at Orfield Laboratories in Minneapolis attracts visitors despite myths about sensory deprivation.

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Story summary

Haleakala Crater in Maui, Hawaii, is among the quietest natural locations in the United States, with ambient sound levels down to 10 dBA, letting visitors hear their heartbeat.
The quietest place on Earth is an anechoic chamber at Orfield Laboratories in Minneapolis, recording -24.9 dB and absorbing 99.99% of sound.
The chamber at Orfield Laboratories in Minneapolis attracts visitors despite myths about sensory deprivation.