Fountains of Life: A Look at Florida Springs from Sacred Waters to Green Slime

Ichetucknee Springs

There are more than a thousand natural springs in Florida. They are prehistoric, beautiful, world-famous, and draw thousands of visitors and millions of dollars to the state every year. On weekends, springs are crowded with people swimming, boating, enjoying picnics, or snoozing near waters, which hover at 72 degrees year round. The unsurpassed beauty has […]

Blue Spring

While other springs across the state may be dwindling down with overuse, the winter haven for the West Indian manatee that is Blue Springs remains untouched with its minimal flow regime. This allows the spring’s water levels to remain sustainable for wildlife without the worry of over consumption.

Return of the Hyacinth

Hyacinth 1

In March 2012, Bob Knight embarked on what some believe is a dangerous experiment. He reintroduced water hyacinth into Kings Bay in Crystal River, Florida, at the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. The bay is a haven for manatees, which unlike Floridians happen to love hyacinth. Since it was first brought to the St. Johns […]