The Swiss cheese beneath Florida's soil
Three ways the earth opens up
Famous collapses and how humans make them worse
YOUR GOAL
Master of Why Florida is full of sinkholes
hank Florida sinkholes
We pump the water low (water low!) / And the ground caves in below (down below!)
hank Geologists use ground-penetrating radar and electrical resistivity to map underground caverns before they collapse.
hank Pumping massive amounts of groundwater to protect crops from freezing can trigger dozens of sinkholes overnight.
hank Swipe acidic water through limestone to learn how Florida's underground caverns collapse.
Swallowed sports cars: The 1981 Winter Park sinkhole swallowed a Porsche dealership's entire repair shop, including five sports cars.
A cavity in the ground, especially in a limestone formation, caused by water erosion and providing a route for surface water to drain. Excessive groundwater pumping in Florida triggers these collapses, such as the massive 1981 Winter Park event.
What do geologists measure when using electrical resistivity to search for Florida sinkholes?
What is the first step engineers take to repair a dangerous, active sinkhole in Florida?
What do engineers use to fill the upper portion of a sinkhole after stabilizing the limestone base?
What did the famous 1981 Winter Park sinkhole eventually become after it stabilized and filled with water?
Why is mapping sinkholes in Florida highly challenging for home buyers and developers?