Suwannee Springs facts for kids

For the unincorporated community see Suwannee Springs, Florida

Ruins of the old bathhouse at Suwannee Springs

One of the cabins still standing at Suwannee Springs

The old Suwannee Springs Bridge, built in the 1930s

An original cabin that needs repair

Walls of the bathhouse at the springs

Suwannee Springs, once called Suwannee Sulphur Springs, is a special place with natural springs. It used to be a popular spot for tourists who came to enjoy the mineral-rich water and stay at a hotel. The springs are located near Live Oak, Florida, in a community also named Suwannee Springs, Florida.

Today, the Suwannee River Water Management District takes care of the area. Visitors can enjoy swimming, hiking, and paddling here. It's a great place to explore nature!

What Makes Suwannee Springs Special?

Suwannee Springs has at least six different springs. Five of these springs flow directly into the Suwannee River. The main spring is quite unique. It flows from inside a large, man-made wall. This wall is made of limestone rock. It is about fifteen feet (4.5 meters) high and three feet (1 meter) thick. People built this wall in the late 1890s.

Water Flow and Temperature

Suwannee Springs is known as a "second magnitude spring." This means it has a strong flow of water. On average, about 23.4 cubic feet (0.66 cubic meters) of water flow out of the spring every second. That's a lot of water!

The water comes from very old limestone rock, formed during a time called the Oligocene age. The water is often described as "hard" and has a "sulphur" smell. This is because of the minerals it picks up from the rocks underground. The good news is that the water stays a comfortable temperature all year round, usually between 70 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 24 degrees Celsius).