Florida Caverns State Park

Florida Caverns State Park
IUCN category Ib (wilderness area)
Location	Jackson County, Florida, USA
Nearest city	Marianna, Florida
Coordinates
Established	1942
Visitors	107,597 (in 2013)
Governing body	Florida Department of Environmental Protection
U.S. National Natural Landmark
Designated	December 1976

Sign at the entrance to Florida Caverns State Park

Some of the cave formations in the large, publicly accessible cave at Florida Caverns State Park, 2007.

Florida Caverns State Park is a Florida's State Park, located in the Florida Panhandle near Marianna. It is home to the only air-filled caves accessible to tourists in Florida.

Florida Caverns is unusual for the state. The limestone caverns were formed over time, as water seeped into and dissolved local bedrock, forming stalagmites, stalactites and flowstones. The same phenomenon is occurring in many other locations throughout Florida; as years pass, local fissures may turn to holes, and holes into caves. However, the vast majority of Florida's groundwater erosion formations have stopped at the sinkhole stage and have not developed further into caves.

Florida Caverns State Park and the neighboring golf course were originally constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of the New Deal.

Recreational Activities

The park has such amenities as bicycling, birding, boating, canoeing, fishing, hiking trails, horse trails, kayaking, picnicking areas, wildlife viewing and full camping facilities. Ranger-led tours are available on the hour from 9 AM to 4 PM, and take 45 minutes to 1 hour. It also has a visitor center, interpretive exhibit and concessions.

External links

• Florida Caverns State Park at Florida State Parks
• Florida Caverns State Park at State Parks
• Florida Caverns State Park at Great Florida Vacations