RickI
Contributor
It is sad that not only can you no longer scuba dive in this spring, as of this year, you can't even visit as it has been closed to the public. Most of my dives there were back in the day indirectly for the State of Florida Division of Antiquities. This site has bizarre geology, aquatic life such as it is, early man burial sites, fossilized remains, formerly a hot springs spa and ironically, controversy on several levels. More about this below:
"During the Paleoindian Period (approximately 12,000 to 9,500 years ago) the Florida peninsula was very different from today. The sea level was much lower and the coastline much farther out. The climate in Florida during the Paleoindian period was cool and arid like an African savannah. Many of the lakes, springs, wetlands, and rivers in Sarasota County did not exist. Water was in short supply. This different kind of geography and climate meant a different array of animals and plants. Giants such as the mammoths and giant sloths roamed the grass prairies.
Waterholes, such as Warm Mineral Springs, became vital to animals for drinking water in this dry environment. Humans also relied heavily on these few watering holes, not only for drinking water, but also for campsites where animals could be ambushed, butchered, and eaten. Evidence of these campsites is found today at the bottom of rivers, such as the Aucilla River in North Florida, and sinkholes, such as Warm Mineral Springs and Little Salt Springs in Sarasota County."
The Florida Paleoindians | Sarasota History Alive!
A sectional rendering of the present day sinkhole. It is an interesting geologic site, more about that at:
Continued at: Warm Mineral Springs UW Archaelogical Site - FKA Kiteboarding Forums
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"During the Paleoindian Period (approximately 12,000 to 9,500 years ago) the Florida peninsula was very different from today. The sea level was much lower and the coastline much farther out. The climate in Florida during the Paleoindian period was cool and arid like an African savannah. Many of the lakes, springs, wetlands, and rivers in Sarasota County did not exist. Water was in short supply. This different kind of geography and climate meant a different array of animals and plants. Giants such as the mammoths and giant sloths roamed the grass prairies.
Waterholes, such as Warm Mineral Springs, became vital to animals for drinking water in this dry environment. Humans also relied heavily on these few watering holes, not only for drinking water, but also for campsites where animals could be ambushed, butchered, and eaten. Evidence of these campsites is found today at the bottom of rivers, such as the Aucilla River in North Florida, and sinkholes, such as Warm Mineral Springs and Little Salt Springs in Sarasota County."
The Florida Paleoindians | Sarasota History Alive!
A sectional rendering of the present day sinkhole. It is an interesting geologic site, more about that at:
Continued at: Warm Mineral Springs UW Archaelogical Site - FKA Kiteboarding Forums
.
