Dean's Blue Hole EarthCache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(other)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
A blue hole is the common name given to water-filled sinkholes with the top of the hole being below the water level.
The world's deepest seawater blue hole is Dean's Blue Hole in Turtle Cove of the Bahamas' Long Island. It is a staggering 663 feet deep.
Click here to see a video of the world record 288 foot dive in Dean's Blue Hole.
Formed by karst processes, which is the dissolution of soluble rock, these landscapes are found all over the world. Common forms are waterfalls, springs, caves and sinkholes.
Karst features are most commonly the result of acidic water acting with the soluble rock. As rain falls through the atmosphere and picks up carbon dioxide molecules (CO2), it is converted to carbonic acid (H2CO3).
This acidic water dissolves the rock over time and creates the sinkholes.
The unique feature of blue holes is their almost perfect circular shape. Dean's Blue Hole is no different. However, at a depth past about sixty feet, the hole begins to gradually widen all the way to the bottom.
The coordinates place you at the beach area just south of the hole. To arrive at the hole, take the dirt roads north about a mile off the main highway, west of Clarence Town. Queen's Highway is the only highway and it travels the length of Long Island.
To log this earthcache, please submit your answers to the following questions:
1. In your estimation, how wide is the top of the blue hole?
2. How would you describe the shape of the hole from top to bottom?
OPTIONAL: Photographs of yourself or surroundings will be met with giddy earthcache-geek excitement, especially underwater.
FTF honors go to aviva.ff
Resources and credits:
Florida KiteSurfing Association, Inc.
Jelsoft Enterprises, Ltd.
Los Angeles Times
sinkole.org
Wikipedia
Placed by a member of Denton-Area Wayward Geocache Seekers.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)