Devil's Millhopper

One of the treasures in Gainesville FL is the Geological State Park known as Devil's Millhopper. Every time I visit, I wonder what it must have been... more

by Joan Carroll

Title

Devil's Millhopper

Artist

Joan Carroll

Medium

Photograph - Digital Photograph

Description

One of the treasures in Gainesville FL is the Geological State Park known as Devil's Millhopper. Every time I visit, I wonder what it must have been like to be among the first humans to visit here. You can be quite close and miss it entirely due to the lush vegetation. In the midst of north Florida's sandy terrain and pine forests, a bowl-shaped cavity 120 feet deep leads down to a miniature rain forest. Small streams trickle down the steep slopes of the limestone sinkhole, disappearing through crevices in the ground. Lush vegetation thrives in the shade of the walls even in dry summers. A significant geological formation, Devil's Millhopper is a National Natural Landmark that has been visited by the curious since the early 1880s. Researchers have learned a great deal about Florida's natural history by studying fossil shark teeth, marine shells and the fossilized remains of extinct land animals found in the sink. The 120 foot (40 m) deep, 500 foot (150 m) wide 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 236 wooden steps, along with boardwalks and an observation deck at the bottom were completed in 1976.

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April 7th, 2014