Contributor: Alicia Windham
Stream Name: Silver River
Location: Marion County, FL
These are photographs from the pristine Silver River in North Central Florida. It contains one of Florida’s 1stmagnitude springs and has one of the largest artesian springs in the world. The river’s entire length is surrounded by Silver Springs State Park which protects it from development. It is a wonderful habitat for manatees, wading birds and other wildlife. Not only is the Silver River a great place for canoeing and kayaking but also provides a perfect educational venue where the general public can learn about the river environment. With the ongoing degradation of nearby coastal and riverine systems, some manatees are seeking healthier habitats with abundant food and clean water like the Silver River. Healthy riverine systems such as these are necessary to the survival of animals such as manatees. Given the interconnected nature of our river systems, Florida residents, legislators and environmental managers need to continue to work together to restore the ecological balance of all our waterways and to provide suitable habitat for its wildlife.
Swimming is strictly forbidden in the Silver River, the underwater shots were taken with a point-and-shoot camera held over the side of a boat.
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