Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park, Limestone sinkhole geological state park in Gainesville, US.
Devil's Millhopper is a geological state park in Gainesville built around a limestone sinkhole 120 feet (37 m) deep and 500 feet (150 m) wide. Over 100 feet of rock layers are exposed in its walls, and twelve springs feed the pond at the bottom. A wooden boardwalk and staircase with horizontal rails and vertical posts, made of weathered gray-brown timber, descends into the sink, partially covered by green leaves and ferns.
The site received National Natural Landmark designation in 1974, recognizing its geological significance for Florida's natural history. The rock layers hold fossilized shark teeth and shells from an ancient sea that once covered this region.
The name refers to the sinkhole's shape, likened to a mill's hopper, and to animal bones found at the bottom, which suggested animals entered on their way to meet the devil. The University of Florida science department once owned the site for student research, and students also used it for parties, causing litter and erosion.
Visitors descend into the sinkhole on a 132-step wooden structure of stairs and boardwalks, rebuilt after Hurricane Irma damaged the earlier walkway and reopened in 2019. This replacement ends higher in the sinkhole than the old one did, so the pond at the bottom is viewed from above rather than reached directly.
Three separate ecological zones exist within the park: sandhill forest, hammock woodland, and wetland area, each with its own plant life. This variety lets visitors experience multiple habitats during a single visit.
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