As of January 2015, the Park Entrance Fees are as follows: • Vehicle (2-8 People):$6.00 • Vehicle (1 person): $4.00 • Extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass: $2.00 • Motorcycle: $4.00 • Pedestrians & bicyclists: $2.00
The Deep Hole is a karst sink located in Myakka River State Park, Sarasota County, Florida. It is located on the northwest bank of the Myakka River just outside the southern terminus of the Lower Myakka Lake in the Wilderness Preserve section of the park.
Lake levels exhibit pronounced depth variation from wet to dry season and Deep Hole is a refuge for wildlife during the dry season. Prior studies of river rocks estimated the age of the Myakka River basin at several million years although the formation period for Deep Hole is unknown. Water quality data were collected in August 2011 and in April 2012 a technical dive team explored the sink to determine the overall depth and document similarities to WMS and LSS, and offshore submarine springs.
Unique characteristics of the site necessitated planning for unknown depth, potential caves, poor visibility and a large number of adult alligators. Findings showed the maximum depth to be 41 m for ambient dry season lake levels, no significant ledges or caves were found. There was a strong thermocline at approximately 9 m in August 2011 and 6 m in April 2012 below which the water was anoxic.
For the August visit water temperature was uniformly 14.2 degrees C below 12 m, colder than the typical approximately 22.5 degrees C for Florida spring water indicating the sink does not have underlying spring flow. Long-term temperature records indicated there is some seasonal warming near the thermocline. Water quality parameters varied with the temperature stratification and were dissimilar to Warm Mineral Springs and Little Salt Spring where warm, mineralized water rises from a deep aquifer.
To Log a find please email the answer to the following questions:
1. What type of sink hole is the Deep Hole?
2. On your way to the deep hole you passed through a wilderness area, what type of large trees were there?
3. Near the Deep Hole at N27 12.932 W 082 20.141 what type of tree is there? And what is it's diameter.
4. Once at the Deep hole the trees changed, what are the two types of large trees now?
5. When standing at GZ, estimate how far it is to the other side of the Deep Hole.
6. Is there a spring in the Deep Hole? What is the reason for your answer?
7. Post a picture of your visit in your log.
Please do not post the answers in your log.