Florida Caverns State Park, Show cave and state park in Jackson County, Florida.
Florida Caverns State Park is a nature preserve with underground caves in northwest Florida carved out by hidden water flows. The chambers contain stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone formations built up over thousands of years through slow limestone dissolution.
Workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps expanded the caves in the 1930s and prepared them for visitors, leaving visible tool marks on the walls. These efforts made it possible for the public to safely descend underground and explore the limestone formations.
These caves held meaning for the people who lived in this region over centuries, with traces of their presence still visible in the rock. Walking through the passages, you get a sense of how communities connected with this underground world.
You can only enter the caves as part of a guided tour, so plan to spend time exploring with a guide on hand. It stays cool below ground and the paths can be slippery, so wear sturdy shoes and bring a light jacket.
An underground river once flowed through these caves and carved most of the channels and openings you see today. The water has since vanished, but you can spot the traces of its work throughout the cave structure.
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