Sinkhole Characteristics

A sinkhole, also known as a sink, shake hole, swallow hole, swallet, doline or cenote, is a natural depression or hole in the Earth's surface caused by karst processes — the chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks^[1] or suffosion processes^[2] for example in sandstone. Sinkholes may vary in size from 1 to 600 meters (3.3 to 2,000 ft) both in diameter and depth, and vary in form from soil-lined bowls to bedrock-edged chasms. Sinkholes may be formed gradually or suddenly, and are found worldwide. The different terms for sinkholes are often used interchangeably  

Sinkholes in florida: A Circular depression in a karst area. It's drainage is subterranean, it's size is measured in meters is commonly funnel shaped. Sinkholes are a natural component of the Florida landscape. In the simplest terms, sinkholes are derpressions in the surface resulting from the dissolution of underlying bedrock. Their size depends on the local geology.   Sinkholes form in carbonet bedrock, limestone and dolostone. Naturally acidic rainwater anters the soil percolates downward. Upon reaching the carbonet bedrock a chemical reaction takes place. Small amounts of rock are dissolved and the acid is nuetralized. The natural flow of water throught the rockcarroes away yhe disolved rock particles, enlarging natural pores and cracks in the bedrock. Over time, this process may form large cavities and caves in the bedrock. 

Two broad types of sinkholes occur in Florida. Collapse sinkholes form quicklyand tend to develop in areas where you have clayey sediments over the bedrock. They typically are the result of an underground cavity enlarging to the point where it's ceiling no longer supports the weight of the overlying sediments.  Solution sinkholes form gradually and commonly occur in areas with sandy sediments overlying the bedrock. There typically form by gradual infilling of cracks and voids in the underlying bedrock by cover sediments. the land surface over the infilled bedrock subsides in response.