Just found this site: Shows sinkhole concentrations in Florida.

Florida sinkholes map - Orlando Sentinel

re: Sinkholes
 

Have lived in Florida 30 years. Sinkholes seemed to occur largely around the areas where there were many lakes, ie, Central Florida. It has to do with the limestone aquafirs and the fact that our groundwater is just a few feet underground in most of Florida. So anywhere it is possible and I've heard of them in many parts of this state and now many other states where one would not suspect they would be. Just more, it seems in central Florida. When there is a lot of rain, it causes more to occur. They are random and unable to predict, although probably areas of possibility. Like earthquakes in California, you have to hope you can get good insurance, but I read that insurance is more restricted as more occur. Do your research and check your policy. Like any insurance, do that before you need it.
:pray:

Underground soluble rocks cause sinkholes. Florida is comprised of mostly limestone which is soluble rock.

Sinkholes, from USGS Water-Science School

Sinkholes

Sinkholes are common where the rock below the land surface is limestone, carbonate rock, salt beds, or rocks that can naturally be dissolved by groundwater circulating through them. As the rock dissolves, spaces and caverns develop underground. Sinkholes are dramatic because the land usually stays intact for a while until the underground spaces just get too big. If there is not enough support for the land above the spaces then a sudden collapse of the land surface can occur. These collapses can be small, or, as this picture shows, or they can be huge and can occur where a house or road is on top.

The most damage from sinkholes tends to occur in Florida, Texas, Alabama, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. The picture to the left shows a sinkhole that quickly opened up in Florida, apparently eating a swimming pool, some roadway, and buildings.

What is a "Sinkhole"?

A sinkhole is an area of ground that has no natural external surface drainage--when it rains, all of the water stays inside the sinkhole and typically drains into the subsurface. Sinkholes can vary from a few feet to hundreds of acres and from less than 1 to more than 100 feet deep. Some are shaped like shallow bowls or saucers whereas others have vertical walls; some hold water and form natural ponds. Typically, sinkholes form so slowly that little change is noticeable, but they can form suddenly when a collapse occurs. Such a collapse can have a dramatic effect if it occurs in an urban setting.


Areas prone to collapse sinkholes

The map (see link) shows areas of the United States where certain rock types that are susceptible to dissolution in water occur. In these areas the formation of underground cavities can form and catastrophic sinkholes can happen. These rock types are evaporites (salt, gypsum, and anhydrite) and carbonates (limestone and dolomite). Evaporite rocks underlie about 35 to 40 percent of the United States, though in many areas they are buried at great depths.



Types of sinkholes

Since Florida is prone to sinkholes, it is a good place to use to discuss some different types of sinkholes and the geologic and hydrologic processes that form them. The processes of dissolution, where surface rock that are soluble to weak acids, are dissolved, and suffosion, where cavities form below the land surface, are responsible for virtually all sinkholes in Florida.

Dissolution sinkholes
Dissolution of the limestone or dolomite is most intensive where the water first contacts the rock surface. Aggressive dissolution also occurs where flow is focussed in preexisting openings in the rock, such as along joints, fractures, and bedding planes, and in the zone of water-table fluctuation where groundwater is in contact with the atmosphere.

Cover-subsidence sinkholes
Cover-subsidence sinkholes tend to develop gradually where the covering sediments are permeable and contain sand. In areas where cover material is thicker or sediments contain more clay, cover-subsidence sinkholes are relatively uncommon, are smaller, and may go undetected for long periods.


More here: Sinkholes, from USGS Water-Science School

The Science of Sinkholes | Science Features

http://fl.water.usgs.gov/PDF_files/cir1182_tihansky.pdf

Do you have Google? A simple search on sink holes in Florida will give you that information.

This is really interesting.
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/g...ole_poster.pdf

There was a sinkhole incident today on Chalmer St in Buttonwood. I believe that two houses are involved

For what it's worth
 

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/os-sinkhole-the-villages-20140419,0,73719.story


SINKHOLE THREATENS 2 HOMES IN THE VILLAGES

Catacombs?
 

Please read my first post above this one, showing the latest sinkhole, which I found quite easily via the newspaper.
The information is out there if you google it.

http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/local/florida/2014/04/19/massive-sinkhole-opens-in-sumter-county/7926829/
QUITE A PHOTO SEQUENCE OF THE MOST RECENT SINK HOLE......channel 10 news. USE THE RIGHT ARROW TO ADVANCE PHOTOS. One is stuck.
My earlier post, prior to this, showed the photos from the “SUN” Sentinel newspaper.Look above this post and while reading both, keep scrolling all the way to the bottom.Catacombs?

I for one, would want to know, as a home is a big investment.We might wish to shove it under the rug or joke about it, but it surely is not funny for the homeowner.My heart goes out to them.I still remember that poor man in Brandon, Florida on the west coast…..last year.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-sinkhole-the-villages-20140419,0,4201264.story
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http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/pages/11100/f11137/f11137.htm

Sinkholes of Lake County, Florida as of 2008

http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/pages/11100/f11158/f11158.htm
Sinkholes of Sumter County, Florida as of 2008.

http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/pages/11100/f11143/f11143.htm
Sinkholes of Marion County, Florida as of 2008

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-sinkhole-the-villages-20140419,0,4201264.story

And this. I think you may have not have seen this thread from yesterday. All local television stations are covering it as well as our excellent online news.
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...k-hole-111892/

What if Steve did not have the URL? Sometimes unsolicited advice is not appreciated.

David Muir, ABC Sunday Evening National News
 

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/sinkhole-stunner-florida-23401590


David Muir, ABC Sunday Evening National News, commented on the sinkhole in The Villages, Florida.

However......he did not name The Villages.....it was just called "a suburb outside of Orlando."

Same photos as were posted earlier for The Villages sinkhole.

See above hyperlink for "Sinkhole Stunner in Florida" video from ABC Sunday evening news....2 hours ago.

Let the short commercial run first.

We, in The Villageas are well aware of what happens here. We have television, newspapers, radio and internet. They do report this news. It seems you are constantly looking for reasons to NOT live here. If I am wrong, I apologize.

Florida is a sink hole.... LOL But we still live here just like people live in CA or Tornado Ally!