Mysterious Disappearing Waters

Our many lakes, ponds, streams have always been a source of wonder and amazement.  Many have the unpredictable habit of periodically going dry, water disappearing into subterranean outlets.  Some flood frequently, destroying nearby property and homes.  Some are formed when the roofs of underground caverns collapse and the resulting hole fills with water.  These generally are referred to as "sinks or sinkholes".   Think Leon Sinks State Park.   Another example is Orchard Pond, north Leon County.  According to local legend, the bottom of this pond was once a very large peach orchard.  In the early 1820's or 1830's, water began coming from underground and rose until it had covered the entire orchard.  No one lost their life in this flood, but lots of farm buildings and several homes were underwater.

Until sometime in the 1930's locals claimed that they could see many of these buildings on the bottom of the pond.  According to legend you needed a calm, windless day, with the sun nearly directly overhead.  In 1829 the Key West Register noted that the surface of nearby Lake Jackson had recently dropped 10 feet.  Indian cabins and peach trees became visible  on the lake bottom !!!!   Is it all in the eye of the beholder?

Orchard Pond is privately owned today and is not open to the public.  Probably the only things brought up from its water will be pan fish.  Old-Timers still smile at the mention of Orchard Pond, and allow that history may tell us some dubious tales, it also tells some unbelievably true ones.

Some of our well know sinkholes include Lakes Jackson, Iammonia, and Miccosukee.  These lakes were created because of sinkhole formation hundreds of years ago.  The underlying limestone geology gives way and sediments  from above fall into the holes.  All of Florida has porous limestone as its base.  During times of drought, you'll hear of sinkholes appearing in peoples yards, while during heavy rains, flooding will occur.

You can check any property for flood insights by going to www.Tallahassee.com/sinkholemap  Type in the address of the property, and you will get a FEMA flood report and sinkhole information.  It will tell you the distance to the nearest sinkhole and how near the property is.  Interesting information available withing 1/2 to 1 mile of the property.