Floating islands
Florida has lots of islands, and lots of water surrounding them, on top of which are many things that float:
Turns out it also has “floating islands!”
When big rains follow an extended drought, the rapid (and deep) submergence of oxygen filled peat, plus some wave action, can cause the peat to become buoyant – and then “pop up” from the bottom or simply dislodge from the lake shore:
Thus a floating island, or tussock, is born.
Where it goes from there is the whimsy of the wind … and water levels. Sometimes they get deposited up on higher terrain. Other times they drift ashore to the dismay of property owners. Other times they won’t go way.
In the Everglades many “tree islands” formed from the same process.
The photograph was taken by Matt Hasty on one such island in Lake Jesup (Seminole County) during the multi-day “no name” storm of mid May. Those rains popped lake levels up 4 feet and, in the process, also brought some new floating islands to life.
Excellent photo Matt!
6 comments:
I gotta say it's SPOOKY to actually witness a floating island get born. especially from the canoe! First time I saw it was a bunch of bubbles coming up I thought a turtle was rooting around. (could have been) Then out of the bubbles, below the surface of the water I could see a "shape"... First time I about pooped my pants! There was something underwater twice as long and twice as wide as my canoe! And it was swimming straight toward me!!! Then "bloop" the mud showed itself. Two days later it was covered with grass.
matt.
Hi Robert,
Your kind note on my blog led me here to The South Florida Watershed. How exciting to see a blog with such pertinent content. I especially like the way you highlight the central word.
Your enthusiasm and your sound teaching skills inspire me to run to the library and read more. I'll be back soon.
PS: I've always loved the word Floridian. Mellifluous. Much better than Wisconsinite.
Seen many, did not know the origin, Thanks. Always learn something new here.
Bob,
We have a "floating" island called Cranberry Bog in Buckeye Lake, near my home in Columbus. Here is a link to a story about it and its origins.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/contentbe/dispatch/2006/07/18/20060718-B4-00.html
You may have to copy and paste it to read. Good stuff.
Thanks for that answer - actually, I think Virginia just might break off from all the rain!
Thanks for your comments.
That's a great tale Matt, and the only "first hand" account I've ever heard of anyone ever being "on the spot" when a floating island came to life. It's such a terrific photo too --> it absolutely jumps out of the computer screen, as if you could touch it.
Great link Lindy: I read the entire article, it's well written and really a fascinating case study. It makes one question what's real: is it an island or not, and despite how natural it looks, it took back pooling of water over an old wetland to pop it to the surface. Thanks for sharing.
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