Confluence - Santa Fe River- River Sink
N 29° 54.739 W 082° 34.417
17R E 348085 N 3310109
This is the above ground termination or confluence point of the Santa Fe River. That is right the river simply disappears here underground through a sinkhole to reappear 3 miles downstream.
Waymark Code: WMHZT5
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 09/02/2013
Views: 8
The Santa Fe River is a big, dark brown river that drains a 1,380 square mile area and flows for approximately 75 miles.
In O’Leno State Park in High Springs, FL, the Santa Fe River suddenly disappears underground into a sinkhole (a Karst formation) and does not reappear until 3 miles downstream in River Rise State Park.
Karst landforms are generally the result of mildly acidic water acting on soluble bedrock such as limestone. The carbonic acid that causes these features are formed as rain passes through the atmosphere picking up CO2, which dissolves in the water. Once the rain reaches the ground, it may pass through soil that may provide further CO2 to form a weak carbonic acid solution: H2O + CO2 ? H2CO3 (the acid). Recent studies of sulfates, in Karst waters, suggests sulfuric acid and hydrosulfuric acid may also play an important role in Karst formation.
This mildly acidic water begins to dissolve the surface along with any fractures or bedding planes in the limestone bedrock. Over time, these fractures enlarge as the bedrock continues to dissolve. Openings in the rock increase in size, and an underground drainage system begins to develop, allowing more water to pass through the area, and accelerating the formation of underground karst features. This geological process, which will take thousands of years, is characterized by unique features such as sinkholes, fissures, caves, disappearing streams & rivers, springs, rolling topography, and underground drainage systems.
To see this phenomenon yourself drive to the park, pay the small admission fee and proceed to the day use area. Park and walk to the suspension bridge over the river. Here you have a choice; you can cross the bridge and walk the entire River Loop trail (1.4 miles) or without crossing the river, turn right and follow the River loop for .5 miles of easy walking to the sink.
Because the flow rate of the river is based upon local rainfall upstream of this point the flow of the river and depth of the river varies greatly.
From all appearances the river forms a large pool above the unseen sink hole and the river disappears roughly from the center of the pool marked by the eddies.
My Journey
My trip to the sink was marked by a beautiful early morning hike where I saw numerous deer along the loop trail. The highlight was seeing a fawn, a doe and a buck grazing on the early dew laden grass. The sink itself was quite full as the water level was quite high due to abnormally high amount of rainfall this season in the area. This was the highlight of a three day camping trip in the area.
Parking Coordinates: N 29 54.902 W082 34.843
Trailhead Coordinates: N29 54.867 W 082 34.771
Relevant Web Site: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
1. Describe your journey and visit.
2. Date of your visit.
3. At least one original photo (DO NOT include either you or your GPSr).