Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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Boardwalk leading down to the sinkhole's observation deck
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 Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park
Location in Florida
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| Location | Alachua County, Florida, USA |
| Nearest city | Gainesville, Florida |
| Area | 67 acres (27 ha) |
| Established | 1974 |
| Governing body | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
| Designated: | December 1974 |
Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park is a special Florida State Park. You can find it in Gainesville, Florida. This park is famous for its huge sinkhole, which is like a giant bowl in the ground.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection looks after this park. It's also close to other natural areas like San Felasco County Park.
Contents
Explore the Giant Sinkhole: Devil's Millhopper Geology
The most amazing part of this park is a huge sinkhole. A sinkhole is a big hole that forms in the ground. This happens when limestone rock underground slowly dissolves. Over a very long time, water with a little acid in it eats away at the rock. This creates a cave, and then the ground above can collapse.
The Devil's Millhopper sinkhole is special because it's so big. It shows more than 100 feet of different rock layers. These layers are like pages in a book, telling the story of the Earth's past. You can easily see them along the sides of the sinkhole.
Water and Fossils in the Sinkhole
At the bottom of the sinkhole, there's a small pond. This pond is fed by twelve different springs. Some of these springs are easier to spot than others.
In the summer, the air at the bottom of the sinkhole feels much cooler. This is because it's so deep and shady. Scientists have found cool things here, like fossil shark teeth and old seashells. They've also found bones of animals that lived long ago.
Nature's Zones: Ecology at Devil's Millhopper
Even though the park is about 71 acres, it has three different natural areas. These areas are different because of how much sun, fire, and water they get.
- Sandhill Environment: Here, the soil is sandy. Regular fires help pine trees grow best in this area.
- Hammock Environment: These areas have moist soil. You'll find lots of broadleaf trees and smaller plants here.
- Swamp Areas: These parts of the park are wet all year. Only plants and animals that like wet conditions can live here.
A Look Back: History of Devil's Millhopper
The sinkhole is about 120 feet deep and 500 feet wide. It got its name because it looks like a "hopper" from an old mill. People thought the bones found at the bottom meant animals went in there "on the way to meeting the devil!"
For a while, the University of Florida owned the Millhopper. Students used it as a place to study nature. Its unique environment was very helpful for learning. But sometimes, students would have parties there. This caused problems with trash and damage to the soil.
Protecting the Sinkhole
In 1974, the state of Florida bought the site. They wanted to protect it and make it safe for visitors. In 1976, they built 236 wooden steps. They also added boardwalks and a viewing deck at the bottom. This allowed people to visit without harming the sinkhole.
In 2017, Hurricane Irma damaged the boardwalk. The path into the sinkhole had to close for repairs. A new, safer boardwalk with 132 steps was built. It reopened to the public on June 5, 2019.
The Devil's Millhopper was named a National Natural Landmark in 1974. This means it's a very important natural place. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.
Images for kids
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Park entrance sign
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A nature trail in the park
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Vegetation
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Boardwalk by the sinkhole
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Florida Longleaf Pine Sandhill near the entrance
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Registered Natural Landmark plaque
