Leon Sinks Cave
Location:
Leon Sinks is a part of the Apalachicola National Forest.
Description:
The Leon Sinks Geological Area is a mature karstic area developed on the Upper Floridan aquifer. This hydrological system is extremely vulnerable to pollution because of the very high permeability of the carbonate aquifer.It is one of the most extensive underwater cave systems in the world. The WKPP has done extensive mapping and exploration of these systems to aid scientists understand the importance of proper ecological protocol. What someone may flush in Tallahassee can easily travel through these kinds of systems and into our drinking supply on the aquaifur since there is little filtration. These systems straddle several counties and are situated on state, federal, and private lands. Access is on a permit only basis due to the advanced conditions comfronted. The WKPP holds the world's record for longest traverse between two surface openings of an underwater cave. You can find soe detailed information at the GUE website here. There are several karst windows to this system that are known independently, so I'll have seperate entries depending on the most common entrance.
Here are some links for some information of the area.
An Introduction to the
Troglobitic Cave Fauna of the Woodville Karst Plain
Top guns of American cave diving
1998 trip report of goining through the system
Click here for a survey of Smokey's Chimney to Trench Sink
Click here for a map of the overall Leon Sinks Cave system
Click here of a small survey of Upper River Sink to Lower River Sink
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