Green Swamp (Florida) facts for kids
The Green Swamp is a huge swamp in Florida. It's located in the middle of the state, between Highway 27 and Interstate 75. This important area stretches across several counties: Polk, Lake, Sumter, Hernando, and Pasco.
The Green Swamp is special because it's where four major Florida rivers begin! These rivers are the Peace River, the Withlacoochee River, the Ocklawaha River, and the Hillsborough River. Think of it as a giant natural water fountain for a big part of Florida.
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What is the Green Swamp?
The Green Swamp isn't just a wet, muddy area. It's a high plateau, meaning it sits a bit higher than the land around it. This large area covers about 560,000 acres, which is like 425,000 football fields! It's made up of wetlands, flat lands, and low ridges.
How the Green Swamp Helps Florida's Water
Rainwater that falls on the Green Swamp does two very important things:
- Starts Rivers: Some of the rainwater flows across the surface, forming the beginnings, or "headwaters," of the four major rivers mentioned earlier.
- Fills Underground Water: A lot of the rainwater also soaks deep into the ground. This water helps to refill the Floridan aquifer system. The aquifer is a huge underground layer of rock that holds water, and it's where most Floridians get their drinking water from!
Because the Green Swamp is higher up and the underground water is close to the surface here, it acts like a giant natural pump. This "pump" helps push water through the aquifer system. This is why protecting the Green Swamp is super important for making sure Florida has enough clean drinking water for everyone.
Protecting the Green Swamp
People in Florida know how vital the Green Swamp is. That's why a big part of it is protected.
The Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve
About 110,000 acres of the Green Swamp are managed as the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve. This preserve is looked after by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. They work to keep the swamp healthy and protect its natural features.
The preserve is divided into five main sections, or "management units":
- Colt Creek State Park (5,067 acres)
- East Tract (51,149 acres)
- Hampton Tract (11,052 acres)
- Little Withlacoochee Tract (4,446 acres)
- West Tract (37,350 acres)
A significant part of the Withlacoochee River, nearly 36 miles, is protected within the preserve. This section is called an "Outstanding Florida Water," which means it's recognized for its amazing natural value and needs extra protection.
Area of Critical State Concern
Because the Green Swamp is so important for Florida's water supply, the state of Florida officially recognized it in 1974. They named 322,000 acres of the Green Swamp region an "Area of Critical State Concern." This means the state understands that this area is extremely important and needs special rules and care to protect it for the future.
