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All the United States Florida Hobe Sound Blowing Rocks Preserve
AO Edited

Blowing Rocks Preserve

These craggy limestone outcrops offer a glimpse at a unique piece of Florida geology.

Hobe Sound, Florida

Added By
John Meszaros
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Blowing Rocks Nature Preserve   apasciuto / CC BY 2.0
Blowing Rocks Nature Preserve   apasciuto / CC BY 2.0
A rocky outcropping at Blowing Rocks Nature Preserve   apasciuto / CC BY 2.0
One of the blowholes that gives Blowing Rocks its name.   Corn Farmer / CC BY-ND 2.0
Shells stuck in the rocks   Clinton & Charles Robertson / CC BY-SA 2.0
Blowing Rocks Nature Preserve   apasciuto / CC BY 2.0
Blowing Rocks Nature Preserve   apasciuto / CC BY 2.0
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  sugarbomb / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Underneath the east coast of Florida lies the unique Anastasia limestone formation. Also known as coquina (the Spanish word for cockle bivalves), this rock is composed of shell fragments, coral bits, small marine fossils, and sand. It formed during the Pleistocene Epoch when the majority of Florida was covered by the ocean. Most of the formation is covered by soil and sand except for a large outcropping at Blowing Rocks Preserve near Hobe Sound.

Waves have sculpted the Anastasia limestone into burrows, pools, ledges, and the ubiquitous blowholes that give Blowing Rocks its name.

In addition to protecting this rare geological outcrop, Blowing Rocks Preserve also conserves several important Florida habitats like mangrove swamps, maritime hammocks, dunes, seagrape scrub, and portions of the Intracoastal lagoon. Just offshore, snorkelers and swimmers can also see the large honeycomb-like reefs of colonial, filter-feeding sabellarid worms.

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Beaches Geological Oddities Rock Formations Nature Preserves

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The preserve is open every day from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Parking is available at a lot at the entrance.

Community Contributors

Added By

Johnmeszaros

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sugarbomb, Michelle Cassidy, Runawaydc

  • sugarbomb
  • Michelle Cassidy
  • Runawaydc

Published

February 27, 2023

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  • http://www.geosciences.fau.edu/events/virtual-field-trips/anastasia/general-information.php
Blowing Rocks Preserve
574 S Beach Rd
Hobe Sound, Florida, 33455
United States
26.978523, -80.084481
Visit Website
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Photo of Florida

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