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For the Love Of Nature, Art and Bad Humor
A Comic Gallery of Creative Expression in the Pursuit of Knowledge
Florida's Springs
A Brief Overview of Nature's Original Waterpark
Central Florida is home to the highest concentration of freshwater springs on the entire planet. That’s right, we’ve got more magical water holes than anywhere else, hundreds of them! Without a single animatronic pirate in sight. And the only turkey legs you’ll find
are those still attached to wild turkeys.
These springs and their surrounding basins provide essential
habitat for a wide variety of plant and animal species.
People love them too. Long before sunscreen-clad tourists showed up with pool noodles and waterproof phone cases, Indigenous peoples cherished these waters for their beauty, freshwater, and ecological richness. Today, locals and visitors from around the globe flock to Florida’s springs to enjoy nature’s original waterpark.
Because they are cool. Literally. 72 degrees all year round.
They remain major attractions, despite the competition from
fake castles and roller coasters. These stunning natural wonders are not only vital to Florida’s environment but also to its economy, conservation efforts, and cultural heritage.
It's remarkable springs exist at all.
Millions of years ago much of Florida lay beneath the ocean.
Over time layers of limestone accumulated under the sea,
eventually shaping much of the state's distinctive terrain.
As sea levels rose and fell parts of this porous limestone dissolved, creating a fascinating geological landscape of sinkholes, caves,
and an underground drainage system known as the
Floridan Aquifer, Florida’s most crucial source of fresh water.
But that fresh water isn't a spring yet...
When it rains the water seeps through the limestone
and replenishes the Floridan Aquifer, gradually raising its water level.
Scientists call this recharge.
As more water fills the aquifer the pressure builds from
both the weight of the water and the surrounding bedrock.
Eventually that pressure pushes the water through natural
openings in the limestone. Voila! A spring.
The Florida Springs Institute's interactive map is a great way
to explore the state's springs. There's over 1,000 of them!
One magic water hole. Gemini Springs, DeBary, FL
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