List of major springs in Florida facts for kids
Florida is a special place with over 700 freshwater springs. Geologists believe this is the largest collection of springs on Earth! A spring is a natural spot where water flows up from underground to the surface. This underground water comes from an aquifer, which is like a giant sponge of rock and sand holding water. You can find springs in 21 of Florida's state parks.
Long ago, in the 1800s, people loved the clear water of these springs. Many towns in Florida even have "Spring" in their names, like Green Cove Springs. Some spring names, like Blue Spring, were so popular that counties had to add their names to tell them apart!
Scientists have been studying Florida's springs for a long time. The first big study was in 1947. Later, in 2004, a report found 720 springs. These springs are ranked by how much water flows out of them. A "first magnitude" spring has a huge amount of water flowing out, more than 64.6 million gallons each day!
Springs also have different types:
- A river rise (RR) is where a river that flowed underground comes back to the surface.
- A single spring (SS) has one main underground source.
- A group spring (GS) has many underground sources that come together.
- A sink (SK) is a hole in the ground where water might flow in or out.
Sadly, the amount of water flowing from many springs has gone down since the 1990s. This is because of dry weather and more water being pumped from the Floridan aquifer for people to use. Some springs, like White Springs, where tourists used to visit, have even stopped flowing completely.
Contents
Exploring Florida's Springs
Many springs are open for people to visit and enjoy. Some are in state parks, while others are on private land. Even if land around a spring is private, if the spring connects to a navigable waterway (a river or stream that boats can use), the public might still have access to the water itself.
Understanding the Spring Data Table
The table below shares details about many of Florida's amazing springs. Here's what the different columns mean:
- Mag: This is the "magnitude" or how much water flows out of the spring each day.
- Type: This tells you what kind of spring it is (RR, SS, GS, or SK).
- Daily flow in millions: This is the amount of water flowing out every day, measured in millions of gallons.
- Temp: This is the water temperature in degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius.
- Own: This shows who owns the land around the spring: S (State), F (Federal), P (Private), or C (County).
- You can click the arrows in the table headers to sort the list by that column!
Key to the Table Symbols
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Mag | Spring name | Outflow body | Type | County | Daily flow in millions |
Temp | Own | Photo |
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1st | Alapaha Rise ![]() |
Alapaha River | RR | Hamilton | 383.9 US gallons (1,453 L) | 70.3 °F (21.3 °C) | P | ![]() |
1st | Alexander ![]() |
St. Johns River | SS | Lake | 60.9 US gallons (231 L) | 74.5 °F (23.6 °C) | F ![]() |
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2nd | Apopka ![]() |
Lake Apopka | SS | Lake | 16.0 US gallons (61 L) | 75.5 °F (24.2 °C) | P ![]() |
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2nd | Aucilla (Wacissa) | Wacissa River | GS | Jefferson | 189.4 US gallons (717 L) § | 68.9 °F (20.5 °C) | P ![]() |
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2nd | Baltzell | Chipola River | GS | Jackson | 31.5 US gallons (119 L) | 67.7 °F (19.8 °C) | S/C | ![]() |
2nd | Beecher ![]() |
St. Johns River | SS | Putnam | 5.8 US gallons (22 L) | 73.1 °F (22.8 °C) | S | ![]() |
1st | Big Blue (Wacissa) | Wacissa River | GS | Jefferson | 189.4 US gallons (717 L) § | 68.9 °F (20.5 °C) | P ![]() |
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1st | Blue ![]() |
St. Johns River | SS | Volusia | 102.0 US gallons (386 L) | 73.0 °F (22.8 °C) | S ![]() |
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3rd | Blue (Levy County) | Waccasassa River | SS | Levy | 4.42 US gallons (16.7 L) | 70.9 °F (21.6 °C) | C | |
1st | Blue Grotto (Silver) ![]() |
Silver River | GS | Marion | 359.3 US gallons (1,360 L) § | 74.3 °F (23.5 °C) | P | |
2nd | Blue Hole (Florida Caverns State Park) ![]() |
Chipola River | SS | Jackson | 12.71 US gallons (48.1 L) | 67.80 °F (19.89 °C) | S | ![]() |
1st | Blue Hole (Ichetucknee) ![]() |
Ichetucknee River | GS | Columbia | 130.2 US gallons (493 L) § | 71.4 °F (21.9 °C) | S ![]() |
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4th | Boulware | Sweetwater Branch Creek | SS | Alachua | 0.2 US gallons (0.76 L) | 72.0 °F (22.2 °C) | C | ![]() |
2nd | Branford | Suwannee River | SS | Suwannee | 4.3 US gallons (16 L) | 69.5 °F (20.8 °C) | C | ![]() |
2nd | Buckhorn Main ![]() |
Alafia River | GS | Hillsborough | 9.7 US gallons (37 L) | 76.5 °F (24.7 °C) | P | ![]() |
2nd | Bugg ![]() |
Lake Denham | SS | Lake | 5.5 US gallons (21 L) | 74.2 °F (23.4 °C) | P | ![]() |
1st | Cedar Head (Ichetucknee) ![]() |
Ichetucknee River | GS | Columbia | 130.2 US gallons (493 L) § | 71.4 °F (21.9 °C) | S | |
1st | Chassahowitzka | Chassahowitzka River | GS | Citrus | 34.3 US gallons (130 L) | 73.4 °F (23.0 °C) | S ![]() |
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2nd | Citrus Blue | Withlacoochee River | SS | Citrus | 10.5 US gallons (40 L) | 72.8 °F (22.7 °C) | P ![]() |
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2nd | Columbia ![]() |
Santa Fe River | SS | Columbia | 25.5 US gallons (97 L) | 72.3 °F (22.4 °C) | P | ![]() |
2nd | Copper | Suwannee River | GS | Dixie | 8.8 US gallons (33 L) | 71.1 °F (21.7 °C) | P | ![]() |
NA | Cow ![]() |
Suwannee River | SK | Lafayette | NA | 71.8 °F (22.1 °C) | P ![]() |
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2nd | Crystal Springs![]() |
Hillsborough River | SS | Pasco | 30.0 US gallons (114 L) | 72 °F (22 °C) | P | ![]() |
1st | Cypress ![]() |
Holmes Creek Choctawhatchee River |
SS | Washington | 65.3 US gallons (247 L) | 67.7 °F (19.8 °C) | P | ![]() |
2nd | De Leon ![]() |
Spring Garden Creek St. Johns River |
SS | Volusia | 17.6 US gallons (67 L) | 73.3 °F (22.9 °C) | S ![]() |
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NA | Devil's Den | None | SK | Levy | NA | 72.0 °F (22.2 °C) | P ![]() |
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2nd | Devil's Ear/Eye/Little | Santa Fe River | GS | Gilchrist | 17.8 US gallons (67 L) | 72.6 °F (22.6 °C) | P ![]() |
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1st | Emerald (Gainer #2) | Econfina Creek | GS | Bay | 124.6 US gallons (472 L) § | 70.5 °F (21.4 °C) | P ![]() |
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2nd | Ellaville | Suwannee River | SS | Suwannee | 26.3 US gallons (100 L) | 73.2 °F (22.9 °C) | P ![]() |
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1st | Falmouth | Karst fenster | SS | Suwannee | 102.8 US gallons (389 L) | 69.3 °F (20.7 °C) | S | ![]() |
1st | Fanning ![]() |
Suwannee River | SS | Levy | 33.3 US gallons (126 L) | 72.9 °F (22.7 °C) | P | ![]() |
2nd | Fenney ![]() |
Shady Brook Lake Panasoffkee |
SS | Sumter | 9.0 US gallons (34 L) | 73.6 °F (23.1 °C) | P | ![]() |
2nd | Fern Hammock ![]() |
Juniper Creek Lake George |
GS | Marion | 6.9 US gallons (26 L) | 71.7 °F (22.1 °C) | F | ![]() |
1st | Gainer #3 | Econfina Creek | GS | Bay | 124.6 US gallons (472 L) § | 70.9 °F (21.6 °C) | P/S ![]() |
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4th | Gator ![]() |
Hammock Creek | SS | Hernando | 0.2 US gallons (0.76 L) | 65.5 °F (18.6 °C) | P ![]() |
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2nd | Gilchrist Blue | Santa Fe River | GS | Gilchrist | 6.9 US gallons (26 L) | 72.8 °F (22.7 °C) | P ![]() |
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2nd | Gemini Springs | Lake Monroe | GS | Volusia | 6.5 US gallons (25 L) | 72 °F (22 °C) | C | ![]() |
2nd | Ginnie | Santa Fe River | GS | Gilchrist | 37.6 US gallons (142 L) | 72.5 °F (22.5 °C) | P ![]() |
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4th | Glen | Hogtown Creek | SS | Alachua | 0.1 US gallons (0.38 L) | 71.8 °F (22.1 °C) | P | ![]() |
3rd | Green Cove | St. Johns River | SS | Clay | 1.8 US gallons (6.8 L) | 75.9 °F (24.4 °C) | C | ![]() |
3rd | Green Springs | Lake Monroe | SS | Volusia | 5.98 US gallons (22.6 L) | 72 °F (22 °C) | C | ![]() |
2nd | Guaranto | Suwannee River | SS | Dixie | 6.0 US gallons (23 L) | 73.0 °F (22.8 °C) | C | ![]() |
2nd | Hardee | Withlacoochee River | SS | Hamilton | 17.5 US gallons (66 L) | 76.6 °F (24.8 °C) | S | |
2nd | Hart | Suwannee River | GS | Gilchrist | 26.7 US gallons (101 L) | 71.9 °F (22.2 °C) | C ![]() |
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2nd | Hernando Salt ![]() |
Mud River | SS | Hernando | 21.3 US gallons (81 L) | 74.9 °F (23.8 °C) | P ![]() |
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1st | Holton Creek Rise ![]() |
Suwannee River | RR | Hamilton | 157 US gallons (590 L) | 71.8 °F (22.1 °C) | S | ![]() |
1st | Homosassa ![]() |
Homosassa River | GS | Citrus | 56.2 US gallons (213 L) | 74.3 °F (23.5 °C) | S | ![]() |
2nd | Hornsby ![]() |
Santa Fe River | SS | Alachua | 32.9 US gallons (125 L) | 72.5 °F (22.5 °C) | P ![]() |
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2nd | Hunter (Kings Bay) | Crystal River | GS | Citrus | 630.2 US gallons (2,386 L) § | 73.4 °F (23.0 °C) | C/P | ![]() |
1st | Ichetucknee ![]() |
Ichetucknee River | GS | Columbia | 130.2 US gallons (493 L) § | 71.5 °F (21.9 °C) | S | ![]() |
1st | Jackson Blue | Merritt's Millpond Chipola River |
GS | Jackson | 41.1 US gallons (156 L) | 69.7 °F (20.9 °C) | S/C | ![]() |
2nd | Juniper ![]() |
Juniper Creek Lake George |
GS | Marion | 5.3 US gallons (20 L) | 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) | F | ![]() |
1st | Kings Bay | Crystal River | GS | Citrus | 630.2 US gallons (2,386 L) § | 73.2 °F (22.9 °C) | S/P | |
1st | Kini/Upper River Sink | Karst fenster | SK | Wakulla | 113.8 US gallons (431 L) | 69.8 °F (21.0 °C) | P | ![]() |
Zero | Kissingen | Peace River | GS | Polk | 0.0 US gallons (0 L) | 72.0 °F (22.2 °C) | P | ![]() |
1st | Lafayette Blue ![]() |
Suwannee River | SS | Lafayette | 29.7 US gallons (112 L) | 71.1 °F (21.7 °C) | S ![]() |
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4th | Levy Blue ![]() |
Waccasassa River | SS | Levy | 1.1 US gallons (4.2 L) | 69.8 °F (21.0 °C) | C | ![]() |
1st | Lime Sink Run ![]() |
Suwannee River | SS | Suwannee | 111.8 US gallons (423 L) | 72.2 °F (22.3 °C) | S | ![]() |
2nd | Lithia Major, Minor | Alafia River | GS | Hillsborough | 19.7 US gallons (75 L) | 77.2 °F (25.1 °C) | C | ![]() |
3rd | Little ![]() |
Weeki Wachee River | SS | Hernando | 3.4 US gallons (13 L) | 74.6 °F (23.7 °C) | P ![]() |
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2nd | Little River | Suwannee River | SS | Suwannee | 54.9 US gallons (208 L) | 72.1 °F (22.3 °C) | S ![]() |
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1st | Madison Blue ![]() |
Withlacoochee River | SS | Madison | 46.1 US gallons (175 L) | 70.3 °F (21.3 °C) | S/C ![]() |
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4th | Magnolia ![]() |
Hammock Creek | SS | Hernando | 0.3 US gallons (1.1 L) | 74.3 °F (23.5 °C) | P | ![]() |
2nd | Manatee ![]() |
Suwannee River | SS | Levy | 99.5 US gallons (377 L) | 72.5 °F (22.5 °C) | S ![]() |
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1st | McCormick (Gainer #1) | Econfina Creek | GS | Bay | 124.6 US gallons (472 L) § | 70.8 °F (21.6 °C) | P ![]() |
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1st | Morrison | Choctawhatchee River | SS | Walton | 40.6 US gallons (154 L) | 67.8 °F (19.9 °C) | S/C ![]() |
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1st | Natural Bridge ![]() |
Karst fenster St. Marks River | SS | Leon | 98.2 US gallons (372 L) | 68.1 °F (20.1 °C) | P | ![]() |
1st | Nutall Rise | Aucilla River | RR | Jefferson | 232.7 US gallons (881 L) | 70.3 °F (21.3 °C) | P | ![]() |
3rd | Orange ![]() |
Orange Creek Oklawaha River |
GS | Marion | 1.9 US gallons (7.2 L) | 74.0 °F (23.3 °C) | P | ![]() |
2nd | Otter | Suwannee River | SS | Gilchrist | 3.1 US gallons (12 L) | 72.7 °F (22.6 °C) | P | ![]() |
NA | Paradise | None | SK | Marion | NA | 73.0 °F (22.8 °C) | P ![]() |
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3rd | Peacock ![]() |
Suwannee River | GS | Suwannee | 5.7 US gallons (22 L) | 69.5 °F (20.8 °C) | S ![]() |
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2nd | Pitt | Econfina Creek | GS | Walton | 3.6 US gallons (14 L) | 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) | C | ![]() |
2nd | Poe | Santa Fe River | SS | Alachua | 3.9 US gallons (15 L) | 72.5 °F (22.5 °C) | C | ![]() |
2nd | Ponce de Leon ![]() |
Sandy Creek Choctawhatchee River |
GS | Holmes | 5.7 US gallons (22 L) | 67.8 °F (19.9 °C) | S | ![]() |
1st | Rainbow ![]() |
Rainbow River Withlacoochee River |
GS | Marion | 409.8 US gallons (1,551 L) | 74.1 °F (23.4 °C) | S/P | ![]() |
1st | Roaring (Ichetucknee) ![]() |
Ichetucknee River | GS | Columbia | 130.2 US gallons (493 L) § | 70.0 °F (21.1 °C) | S | |
2nd | Rock | Rock Springs Run Wekiva River | SS | Orange | 30.0 US gallons (114 L) | 74.9 °F (23.8 °C) | C | ![]() |
2nd | Rock Bluff | Suwannee River | GS | Gilchrist | 17.9 US gallons (68 L) | 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) | P ![]() |
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Zero | Rossetter | Withlacoochee River | SS | Hamilton | 0.0 US gallons (0 L) | 76.6 °F (24.8 °C) | S | ![]() |
3rd | Royal | Suwannee River | SS | Suwannee | 1.6 US gallons (6.1 L) | 72.7 °F (22.6 °C) | C | ![]() |
2nd | Running East, West ![]() |
Suwannee River | GS | Lafayette Suwannee |
18.2 US gallons (69 L) | 71.8 °F (22.1 °C) | P ![]() |
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2nd | Salt (Marion) ![]() |
Lake George | SS | Marion | 49.4 US gallons (187 L) | 74.5 °F (23.6 °C) | F | ![]() |
2nd | Sanlando ![]() |
Wekiva River | SS | Seminole | 8.5 US gallons (32 L) | 76.4 °F (24.7 °C) | P | ![]() |
2nd | Santa Fe ![]() |
Santa Fe River | SS | Columbia | 81.4 US gallons (308 L) | 73.0 °F (22.8 °C) | P ![]() |
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2nd | Santa Fe Rise ![]() |
Santa Fe River | RR | Alachua | 48.5 US gallons (184 L) | 72.5 °F (22.5 °C) | S ![]() |
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2nd | Shangri La ![]() |
Merritt's Millpond Chipola River |
SS | Jackson | 2.5 US gallons (9.5 L) | 69.7 °F (20.9 °C) | P ![]() |
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1st | Silver ![]() |
Silver River Oklawaha River |
GS | Marion | 359.3 US gallons (1,360 L) § | 73.8 °F (23.2 °C) | S | ![]() |
2nd | Silver Glen ![]() |
St. Johns River | GS | Marion | 70.5 US gallons (267 L) | 74.1 °F (23.4 °C) | F | ![]() |
1st | Siphon Creek Rise ![]() |
Santa Fe River | RR | Gilchrist | 77.6 US gallons (294 L) | 72.4 °F (22.4 °C) | S | ![]() |
1st | Spring Creek | Apalachee Bay | SS | Wakulla | 198.4 US gallons (751 L) | 70.9 °F (21.6 °C) | S/P | ![]() |
1st | St. Marks Rise ![]() |
St. Marks River | RR | Leon | 292.1 US gallons (1,106 L) | 68.8 °F (20.4 °C) | P | ![]() |
2nd | Starbuck ![]() |
Wekiva River | SS | Seminole | 9.4 US gallons (36 L) | 76.1 °F (24.5 °C) | P | ![]() |
1st | Steinhatchee Rise | Steinhatchee River | RR | Taylor Dixie |
226.2 US gallons (856 L) | 70.0 °F (21.1 °C) | S | ![]() |
2nd | Sun | Suwannee River | SS | Gilchrist | 4.5 US gallons (17 L) | 72.7 °F (22.6 °C) | P | ![]() |
2nd | Suwanacoochee | Withlacoochee River | SS | Suwannee | 0.3 US gallons (1.1 L) | 69.9 °F (21.1 °C) | S ![]() |
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2nd | Suwannee | Suwannee River | GS | Suwannee | 9.1 US gallons (34 L) | 72.5 °F (22.5 °C) | S | ![]() |
2nd | Suwannee Blue ![]() |
Suwannee River | SS | Suwannee | 8.6 US gallons (33 L) | 70.9 °F (21.6 °C) | P | ![]() |
1st | Tarpon Hole (Kings Bay) | Crystal River | GS | Citrus | 630.2 US gallons (2,386 L) § | 73.2 °F (22.9 °C) | C/P | ![]() |
2nd | Telford | Suwannee River | SS | Suwannee | 20.1 US gallons (76 L) | 70.2 °F (21.2 °C) | P | ![]() |
2nd | Three Sisters (Kings Bay) | Crystal River | GS | Citrus | 630.2 US gallons (2,386 L) § | 73.3 °F (22.9 °C) | P | ![]() |
1st | Treehouse ![]() |
Santa Fe River | SS | Alachua | 25.8 US gallons (98 L) | 71.4 °F (21.9 °C) | P | ![]() |
1st | Troy ![]() |
Suwannee River | SS | Lafayette | 98.2 US gallons (372 L) | 71.0 °F (21.7 °C) | S ![]() |
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2nd | Volusia Blue ![]() |
St. Johns River | SS | Volusia | 56.2 US gallons (213 L) | 73.6 °F (23.1 °C) | S ![]() |
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2nd | Vortex | Blue/Sandy Creek Choctawhatchee River |
SS | Holmes | 4.5 US gallons (17 L) | 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) | P ![]() |
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2nd | Wacissa Group | Wacissa River | GS | Jefferson | 189.4 US gallons (717 L) § | 68.90 °F (20.50 °C) | S/P | ![]() |
1st | Wakulla ![]() |
Wakulla River | SS | Wakulla | 252.02 US gallons (954.0 L) | 70.2 °F (21.2 °C) | S | ![]() |
3rd | Waldo ![]() |
Fenholloway River | SS | Taylor | 0.7 US gallons (2.6 L) | 74.5 °F (23.6 °C) | P | ![]() |
3rd | Wall | Boggy Bayou | SS | Pinellas | 4.2 US gallons (16 L) | 74.0 °F (23.3 °C) | C | ![]() |
3rd | Warm Mineral | Myakka River | GS | Sarasota | 5.5 US gallons (21 L) | 86.4 °F (30.2 °C) | P | ![]() |
1st | Weeki Wachee ![]() |
Weeki Wachee River | SS | Hernando | 104.0 US gallons (394 L) | 74.7 °F (23.7 °C) | S ![]() |
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2nd | Wekiva | Wekiva River (Waccasassa River tributary) |
SS | Levy | 16.82 US gallons (63.7 L) | 73.2 °F (22.9 °C) | P | |
2nd | Wekiwa ![]() |
Wekiva River | SS | Orange Seminole |
43.0 US gallons (163 L) | 74.1 °F (23.4 °C) | S | ![]() |
3rd | Welaka | St. Johns River | SS | Putnam | 5.1 US gallons (19 L) | 74.7 °F (23.7 °C) | P | ![]() |
2nd | White | Suwannee River | SS | Hamilton | 26.1 US gallons (99 L) | 68.0 °F (20.0 °C) | S | ![]() |
2nd | Williford ![]() |
Econfina Creek | GS | Washington Bay |
16.5 US gallons (62 L) | 70.0 °F (21.1 °C) | S | ![]() |
3rd | Worthington | Santa Fe River | SS | Union | 0.2 US gallons (0.76 L) | 68.0 °F (20.0 °C) | C | ![]() |
See also
- List of rivers in Florida
- Outstanding Florida Waters
Images for kids
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Aucilla (Wacissa)
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Blue (Levy County)
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Blue Grotto (Silver)
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Cedar Head (Ichetucknee)
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Hardee
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Kings Bay
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Paradise
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Roaring (Ichetucknee)
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Wekiva