Cathedral Caverns Sinks EarthCache
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Upon finding the Sinkhole, please answer the following questions in an e-mail to my profile e-mail link:
Q1. After studying the surrounding topography, why do you think this particular sink was formed?
Q2. By your best estimate, how wide is the sinkhole?
P1. Take a photo of the sink hole and upload it in your log (Optional but appreciated)
The Sinks are located in Cathedral Caverns State Park on the yellow hiking trail. Trail maps are available at the park office.
Like the other caves in this area, this sink was created by the dissolving limestone rock. Carved by the action of rainwater and groundwater charged with H2CO3 (carbonic acid) and naturally occurring organic acids. This process produces a distinctive landform known as karst, characterized by caves, sinkholes, sinking streams, and underground drainage. Water flowing into the sink continue to chance this feature on a slow but daily basis. Karst is a unique landscape formed by the underground erosion of rocks such as limestone and marble that dissolve in water. Sinks and caves, however, form only a tiny part of most karst areas. Karst openings support unique ecosystems that include plants, bacteria, crickets, spiders, fish, and small mammals adapted to this dark but little changing environment. It can take over tens of thousands of years or longer for a cave or karst feature to develop. Areas of karst landscape require careful management and great care should be taken to protect these areas.
Sinkhole- General Information
A sinkhole, also known as a sink, shake hole, swallow hole, swallet, doline or cenote, is a natural depression or hole in the surface topography caused by the erosion of soil or bedrock, sometimes both by water action. Sinkholes can vary in size from several feet to several hundred feet in diameter and depth. They can vary in form from soil-lined bowls to bedrock-edged chasms. They can be formed gradually over time or very suddenly and can be found worldwide.
Formation of sinkholes may include the gradual removal of slightly soluble bedrock(limestone as an example) by percolating water, the collapse of a cave roof, or a lowering of the water table. Sometimes a sinkhole may exhibit a visible opening into a cave below.In exceptionally large sinkholes,(example-Cedar Sink at Mammoth Cave National Park) a stream or river may be visible across its bottom flowing from one side to the other.
Sinkholes can capture surface drainage for running or standing water, but may also form in currently high and dry locations. Florida is known for having frequent sinkholes, especially in the central region of the state. Sinkholes can be formed in retention ponds due to large amounts of rain.
Sinkholes are usually but not always linked to karst landscapes. In this type of region, there can be hundreds, even thousands of sinkholes in a small area.
Sinkholes have been used throughout history as disposal sites for various forms of waste resulting in the pollution of groundwater resources, resulting in serious health implications in such areas.
Sinkholes can also form from human activity, such as the rare but occasional collapse of abandoned mines. More commonly, sinkholes occur in urban areas because of water main breaks and or sewer collapses when old pipes give way. Sinkholes can also occur from overpumping and extraction of groundwater and subsurface fluids.
Congratulations to Albedo 0.39 on being the first to log this earthcache
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