Sinkholes are cylindrical or cone shaped holes in the ground cover that are formed by the colapse of soil into underground cavities, or from the solution of limestone near the surface. They commonly occur in areas of karst terrain where the underlying limestone is riddled with solution cavities.
Sinkholes are found throughout the Ocala National Forest and are the basis of many lakes in the area. They drain readily and many only contain standing water during, or for short periods following, heavy rains. Those classified as "sinkhole lakes", hold water throughout all or most of the year, drying down only during extreme droughts.
Sinkholes can form in three ways. Dissolution sinkholes form when limestone is dissolved at or near the surface. Ongoing erosional processes result from the chemical and physical actions of underground water, which slowly dissolves the limestone and enlarges these cavities. Subsidence sinkholes, the most common type in Florida, form when the land subsides as the limestone beneath is dissolved. These sinkholes develop into bowl-shaped depressions which can be shallow or deep. Collapse sinkholes can form when the water level in an underground cavern is lowered, creating a space between the water level and the roof of the cavern, which can cause a collapse of the roof. These sinkholes form rapidly when the weight of overlying sediments cause a collapse into the underground cavity.
To claim this Earthcache:
1. Post a photo from the bottom of the sinkhole. Your face does not need to be included, but something that identifies you does. A piece of paper with your geocaching name is good enough. Logs without pictures will be deleted.
2. Use your GPS to measure the depth of the sinkhole, by determining the difference in the elevation between the top and the bottom of the sinkhole. Send an email or message with your measurement.
This cache was placed by a member of the
Northeast Florida Geocachers Association