Black Creek (Florida) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Creek |
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Black Creek at Old Ferry Rd. Boat Ramp
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| Physical characteristics | |
| River mouth | St. Johns River |
Black Creek is a cool river in Clay County, Florida. It's about 13 miles (21 km) long. This creek flows into the big St. Johns River.
Black Creek actually starts from two smaller streams. These are called the North Fork Black Creek and the South Fork Black Creek.
The North Fork begins at Kingsley Lake. It flows through places like Camp Blanding and Jennings State Forest. It also gets water from Yellow Water Creek and Big Branch.
The South Fork gets its water from wet areas called wetlands. Many small streams also feed into it.
The North Fork and South Fork meet near Middleburg, Florida. This is where they form the main part of Black Creek.
Exploring Black Creek
You can explore much of Black Creek by boat. The main part of the creek is deep enough for many types of boats.
If you want to explore the smaller North and South Forks, you might need a canoe or kayak. Some parts of these forks are very shallow. You might even need to carry your boat over land in some spots.
After Middleburg, Black Creek flows past a few towns. These include Asbury Lake, Hibernia, and Green Cove Springs. The creek finally joins the St. Johns River just north of Green Cove Springs.
Why is it Called Black Creek?
The creek gets its name from the color of its water. It looks dark because of something called tannin. Tannin comes from decaying leaves and plants in the water.
In shallow areas, the water might look reddish. But in deeper parts, it looks almost black. Even though it's dark, Black Creek is known as one of Florida's cleanest creeks!
Over time, the creek has carved out deep valleys. These are called ravines. The lower part of the creek is also affected by the tides from the St. Johns River. This means the water level can go up and down with the ocean's tides.
Where is Black Creek Located?
Black Creek helps form the southern edge of Fleming Island. It flows between the St. Johns River and Doctors Inlet.
Two main highways cross Black Creek. State Road 21 crosses the North Fork near Middleburg. U.S. Route 17 crosses the main creek closer to where it meets the St. Johns River.
County Road 218 also crosses the South Fork Black Creek in Middleburg. It crosses the North Fork further west, near Jennings State Forest.
