tall Sabal palmetto and manatees at Blue Spring Sate Park

[Eric in Orlando]

Sunday I went up to Blue Spring State Park. It is about 30 miles north of Orlando near Orange City,FL. Blue Spring is a magnitude 1 spring and is the largest that flows into the St. John's River. About 100 million gallons flow out every day. The water is a constant 72 degrees. In winter when the water temperatures drop below 65F or so in the river, the manatees swim into the spring for the warmth. So do exotic fish that have escaped into the river. Its a gorgeous place and if you are ever in central FL, its a definite must see. Lots of very tall Sabal palmetto and spectacular views.

[Eric in Orlando]

the "boil" or head of the spring

manatees !!!

one started feeding on a Sabal palmetto frond

[Eric in Orlando]

tall Sabal palmetto in the adjacent woods

a very robust clump

[Eric in Orlando]

and for last some fish

Blue Tilapia (not native)

Sailfin Catfish (not native)

young Tarpon (native)

Florida Spotted Gar (native)

[Eric in Orlando]

don't know what these big fish were

Anhinga or Snakebird

Blue Heron

Red Shouldered Hawk

[Alicehunter2000]

Great pictures, will have to try and get over there, maybe this summer. Easy to forget what beautiful places are just around the corner (easy to take for granted).

[Eric in Orlando]

Its one of the best natural places around here !

[Eric in Orlando]

Found out, these are Black Pacu

[Mike Evans]

Nice area Eric. I hit a lot of the springs along the St Johns river in my boat every summer. All of them are lined w/ extremely tall Sabals. Unfortunately, so many manatees pack into a small warm area & eat all the vegetation. So they either verture out into the cold water for more food & freeze to death or stay in warm water & starve. I hope you threw in a few more Sabal leaves into the spring to keep them going.

[Luisd]

Very thanks for the pics, a beautiful place!

Luis

[bubba]

Great pictures of a translucent Florida Spring. How close is this to Astor, where Bartram ID'd the first Royal Palm? Incredible clear water. Always amazing to see Tarpon inland but have heard many stories about Tarpon caught in the middle of the Glades.

[_Keith]

Beautiful place.

And I am guessing there is no fishing allowed. Too bad, Tilapia taste quite nice, and could obviously use a bit of thinning.

[BS Man about Palms]

Cool stuff!!

[Eric in Orlando]

Nice area Eric. I hit a lot of the springs along the St Johns river in my boat every summer. All of them are lined w/ extremely tall Sabals. Unfortunately, so many manatees pack into a small warm area & eat all the vegetation. So they either verture out into the cold water for more food & freeze to death or stay in warm water & starve. I hope you threw in a few more Sabal leaves into the spring to keep them going.

The sign at the entrance said the manatee count was 133 but we only saw a couple dozen. I think they swim out a short distance in the river to feed then come back before they get chilled to death.

[Eric in Orlando]

Very thanks for the pics, a beautiful place!

Luis

Glad you liked them !

[Eric in Orlando]

Great pictures of a translucent Florida Spring. How close is this to Astor, where Bartram ID'd the first Royal Palm? Incredible clear water. Always amazing to see Tarpon inland but have heard many stories about Tarpon caught in the middle of the Glades.

Astor is about 15 miles north (downstream) along the St. John's. Wonder if royals would survive along the water at Blue Spring? Since the water stays 72F all year, lots of rising heat on cold nights.

Mullet and Stingrays are found there too and in the St. John's River. There are stingrays in the SJR at Sanford, just north of Orlando. And a few instances bull sharks have been caught.

[Eric in Orlando]

Beautiful place.

And I am guessing there is no fishing allowed. Too bad, Tilapia taste quite nice, and could obviously use a bit of thinning.

Thats what I was thinking !!! Tilapia is good eating ! No fishing in the spring but the tilapia are in the river too. There is tilapia in the lake here at Leu Gardens now.

[GTClover]

Fabulous spot! I've heard about it from others, but I've never seen any photos. Thanks!

[kylecawazafla]

wow!! I'll have to hit up that place this weekend!! Great photos! I loved the fish too! I was going to tell you those were black Pacu, but you got to it before me. I have my own 29 gallon fish tank I'm currently obsessed with.

[MattyB]

Looks like 2-pacu

[Takil-Explorer]

Well that kind of landscape we had here in Europe till arround 15 millions years ago! They have found fossil remains of Sabal in the southeastern and eastern part of the country. And many more in browncoal pits just across the border.

Alexander

[buccaneers37]

Looks like 2-pacu