Manatee Springs State Park

Waves, Swamps, & Bayous: Southeastern Waters - Part 13

Sunday, 18 November 2018

After snorkeling at Crystal River, we camped for the night at Manatee Springs State Park. This park lies along the Suwannee River, about 20 river-miles inland from the Gulf. As the name states, it has a large spring, one of the largest in Florida, and in the winter manatees come into the spring for warmth. Right now the manatees were in the river and had not yet come into the springs.

The namesake spring, Manatee Springs, is a first-magnitude spring (by definition, greater than 100 ft³/s) that outflows about 100 million gallons per day. The water temperature is 72°F (22°C) all year long. Manatees cannot tolerate water colder than 68°F (20°C), so they come into the springs in the winter.

The area is prone to major floods.

Sue and cypress knees.

Where the creek from the spring meets the Suwannee River.

Hundreds (thousands?) of turkey vultures roost along the banks of the Suwannee.

While filling an essential ecological niche, vultures are ugly birds!

A sleeping manatee briefly surfaces to breathe, ...

... then immediately slips underwater and drifts with the slow river current.