Falling Waters State Park
Falling Waters State Park | |
---|---|
Location | Washington County, Florida, United States |
Nearest city | Chipley, Florida |
Coordinates | 30°43′41″N 85°31′43″W / 30.72806°N 85.52861°W |
Area | 171 acres (69 ha) |
Elevation | 239 ft (73 m)[1] |
Established | 1962 |
Named for | Falling Water Falls |
Visitors | 30000 (in in 2008)[2] |
Governing body | Florida Division of Recreation and Parks |
Website | Falling Waters State Park |
Falling Waters State Park is a 171-acre (69 ha) Florida state park located three miles (5 km) south of Chipley, Washington County in northwestern Florida. The park contains a 73-foot (22 m) waterfall, the highest in the state [3] known as "Falling Waters Falls”.
History
The sinkholes at Falling Waters State Park were used as a hideout by Indian warriors fighting against
The park was deeded to the state in 1962 by the Washington County Development authority.[6] Park facilities such as a picnic pavilion and restrooms were constructed soon after.[7] An archaeologic dig, led by the University of West Florida in 2007, revealed Indian artifacts that were between 1,000 and 1,500 years old.[8] Items found included bits of pottery, Indian arrowheads and what may be the only cave painting in Florida.[8] The archaeologists noted that they thought the same thing that attracts visitors to the park today, the waterfall, also attracted Native Americans to the site.[8] Remnants of the gristmill, distillery and oil well were also found by the team from the university.[8]
Geology
Extended systems of underwater caves,
Falling Waters State Park lies atop a bed of limestone that has been eroded over the years by water which has created the sinkholes and caverns that are found throughout the park.[10] The waterfalls of Falling Waters State Park fall into a 100-foot (30 m)
Recreation
Falling Water State Park is open for year-round recreation including
Gallery
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View down into the sink
References
- ^ "Falling Waters State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. August 28, 1987. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
- ^ Felsberg, Jay (February 5, 2008). "Falling Waters volunteers honored". Washington County News. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
- ^ a b "Welcome to Falling Waters State Park". Florida Division of Recreation and Parks. Archived from the original on May 24, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
- ^ Gallagher, Peter B. (February 13, 1985). "What next for a waterfall? What next for a state?". St. Petersburg Times. p. 10-D. Retrieved June 22, 2010. [dead link]
- ^ a b c "Falling Waters State Park: History". Florida Division of Recreation and Parks. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
- ^ "Florida news briefs". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. April 13, 1962. p. 6. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
- ^ "New University Gets First Official". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. July 25, 1962. p. 5. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Morrison, Jeremy (December 23, 2007). "Archaeologists Dig in the Panhandle". The Panama City News-Herald. p. B-5. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
- ^ Allen, Ginger M.; Main, Martin B (May 2005). "Florida's Geological History". Florida Cooperative Extension Service. University of Florida. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
- ^ a b "Falling Waters State Park". Dale Cox. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
- ^ "About Falling Waters State Park". Florida Division of Recreation and Parks. Archived from the original on May 1, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
- ^ a b "Activities at Falling Waters State Park". Florida Division of Recreation and Parks. Retrieved June 22, 2010.
External links
Media related to Falling Waters State Park at Wikimedia Commons