The Gulf, near Mill Springs Missouri EarthCache
The Gulf, near Mill Springs Missouri
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Collapsed Cave. USE CAUTION
The area had a sign and is surrounded by a chain link fence with a gate. The gate is closed but not locked. You may enter the area there however, is no railing around "The Gulf".
USE CAUTION.
The water area and area fenced has closure order that is enforced by law enforcement. Do not enter the water.
The gravel roads to "The Gulf" are public roads and are open to the public. New signs have been made and should be placed during the 2012 calendar year.
Even though this is marked as a sink hole it is known to be a collapsed cave. The water level changes with the water table in the area. A few years back you could see the cave extend back in to the side because of the low water. In 2011 again you can see the cave. This seem to be a normal rotation of high and low water cycles.
This unique feature a collapsed cave it is marked by United States Geological Survey (USGS) as a sink hole on the USGS maps. The USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle maps show this feature and have a name on it, "The Gulf". It is also know to locals as the Blue hole, however there are other blue holes or spring in the area. The part of the cave you see is a very small part of the whole cave. It extents back hundreds of feet and the deepest part is estimated to be over 300 feet.
This cave is thought to be connected underground to the two sink holes on near by private property. It has also been shown to connected to Bunyon springs out on the main road, you past by if you were coming from the south. Did you see it? It has old fish runs by the roads as it spills over them and cross under the road. How do you connect these features with now way of traveling the waterways? Dye was introduce into the gulf and seen at the spring.
The cave underground was rock that was dissolved away by the water, this took a unknown amount of time. When the very end of the cave collapsed we were left with "the Gulf" the reason it collapsed is unknown. The cave has been explored by divers in the past. At one time a plan was made to put in an observation platform however funding was never found.
The area has a "closer order" to stop people from harming the area. Do not enter the water, do not throw anything into the water, no fishing, no swimming etc. US Forest Service employees visit this area and well as Law enforcement. Please look and take pictures and leave only foot steps.
The Gulf may have a few blind cave fish living in it. These are monitored by Missouri University every few years. There can be other unique animals living in this fragile environment. Please use caution and do not throw anything in the water.
There are reports of a car in the Gulf. That is one of the reasons there is a fence to restrict entry to foot traffic. It is open to the public. The car is down in the water to deep to see and will not be removed. It was determined it would cause more damage to this fragile place if it was removed. So yes someone dump a car in the Gulf.
To get credit for this earth cache, visit and respect it.
Send me an e-mail with
1. the elevation from you GPS unit as you view the water (inside the fenced area).
2. Describe the color and level of the water and if you can see the cave extend back?
3.If you can see the opening estimate the level compared to the top of the cave opening.
4. Tell me something you learn about springs being connected.
5. why do you think this is classified as a collapsed cave rather than a sink hole?
6. Anything you want me know know about your trip and what you found there.
A photo with you log would be nice but is not required.
Hope you enjoyed this unique place on the Mark Twain National Forest.
karst – A landscape characterized by the presence of caves, springs, sinkholes and losing streams, created as groundwater dissolves soluble rock such as limestone or dolomite. (visit link) picture of a karst cutaway landscape
Want to know more than read this page. It has information on Karst in Missouri.
(visit link) (visit link) (visit link)
When looking at this area on (visit link) the area of the map is listed as "5 km S of Mill Spring, Missouri, United States". This site has a place to enter Lat Long.
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The current Poplar Bluff District Ranger Doug Oliver, has given permission for this earth cache. The Office phone number for Poplar Bluff is 573-785-1475
Old cache that was here. More information.........
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FTF Ozark Sweetheart and Family.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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Treasures
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