Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park
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| Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park | |
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| IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape) | |
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| Location: | Alachua County, Florida, USA |
| Nearest city: | Gainesville, Florida |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | 67 acres |
| Governing body: | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park is a Florida State Park located two miles northwest of Gainesville, Florida, USA, off County Road 232, northwest of the University of Florida. It is the only geological park in the state of Florida, and is maintained by the Florida State Parks system, a division of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The park is adjacent to San Felasco County Park, and near the San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park.
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[edit] Geology
The cutaway, limestone sides of the sinkhole provide an easily visible geological record of the area. Twelve springs, some more visible than others, feed the pond at the bottom of the sinkhole. In the summer, the bottom of sinkhole is dramatically cooler than the air at the surface, due to springs that trickle 70-degree water in small waterfalls.
[edit] Ecology
Even though the park is only 67 acres (271,000 m²), three distinct ecological environments exist in the park, based on exposure to sun, fire, and water. In the sandhill environment, the sandy soil and regular fires result in pine trees being the predominant vegetation. The moist soils of the hammocks support broadleaf trees and more low vegetation, while the swamp areas only support flora and fauna adapted to year-around wet conditions.
[edit] History
The 117 foot (36 m) deep, 500 foot (152 m) across sinkhole got its name from its similar appearance to the hopper of a mill, along with the bones found at the bottom, suggesting animals entered it on the way to meeting the devil. The site was purchased by the state in 1974, and a set of 232 wooden steps, along with boardwalks and an observation deck at the bottom were completed in 1976.
[edit] References
- Devil's Millhopper State Geological Site at Florida State Parks
- Devil's Millhopper State Geological Site at Absolutely Florida
- Devil's Millhopper State Geological Site at Wildernet
- Devils's Millhopper from a Visitor's Perspective
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
