202 FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT. 



type of soil is the "Norfolk fine sandy loam," of which a mechanical 

 analysis was given under the head of the Marianna red lands, a few 

 pages back. 



A strip a few miles wide along the Chattahoochee- Apalachicola 

 River has certain peculiarities which almost entitle it to be described 

 separately. Much of its soil is a chocolate-colored sandy loam, evi- 

 dently above the average of this part of the world in fertility. 



Topography and Hydrography — The prevailing topography is 

 irregularly undulating. There seem to be no extensive flat areas, 

 except in the vicinity of some of the rivers, and these are always 

 lower than the adjoining country, and may represent ancient ter- 

 races, though in soil and vegetation they differ little from the more 

 elevated areas. Steep slopes are uncommon except on the immediate 

 banks of streams, but there are quite a number of irregularly 

 shaped and more or less isolated hills standing 50 feet or more above 

 the surrounding country, particularly in Washington County. 



The occurrence of a few lime-sinks and natural bridges shows 

 the effects of solution on the topography, but in the present state of 

 knowledge it is impossible to say whether solution or erosion has 

 been the principal factor in giving the surface its present form. 

 Much of the drainage is subterranean, and in many places one can 

 go several miles at right angles to tlie general direction of the 

 streams without crossing any running water. The region is pretty 

 well supplied with creeks and rivers, though, and there are several 

 large blue limestone springs. Some of the creeks furnish water- 

 power. 



Ponds of all sizes, from a fraction of an acre to a few square 

 miles, abound. Their average size is perhaps two or three acres ; and 

 few of them are deep enough to hold water all the year round. Some 

 are nearly circular, and some are so long and narrow that they can 

 hi.rdly be distinguished from branches; and there may indeed be all 

 gradations between ponds and branches in this region. The amount 

 of seasonal fluctuation of water varies in different ponds from 

 about one to five feet, depending on the area and depth of the basins 

 t:.ey occupy, the sandiness of the soil, etc. Those in which the water 

 fl.uctuates least are known as bays, on account of their vegetation, 

 which will be referred to on the next page. 



Where the superficial sand and clay are thick enough water for 

 domestic purposes is obtained from shallow dug wells and suction 

 pumps, but where the limestone approaches the surface the ground- 



