Opening the Springs

Over 1,000 springs: 

Many sources indicate that Florida has over 1,000 springs in total, though this number can vary by source and definition. 

 

Largest concentration: 

Florida is home to the largest concentration of freshwater springs in the world.  Kings Bay is the second largest spring system in the State of Florida.  Wakulla Springs near Tallahassee is the largest in Florida. The deepest spring in Kings Bay is King Spring (also known as Diver’s Spring back in the day) – over 65 feet deep.   A first magnitude spring.

 

First-magnitude springs: 

There are 33 first-magnitude springs, which are the largest, with each discharging 65 million gallons of water or more daily. 

 

Aquifer source: 

The majority of these springs are fed by the Floridan Aquifer, which also serves as a major source of drinking water for the state. 

 

Info on Crystal River/Kings Bay Springs from SWFWMD:

https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/projects/springs/kings-bay

 

Why Springs are described as being like Swiss Cheese:

A landscape with springs and caves is often described as being like "Swiss cheese," particularly in geological terms. This comparison refers to a specific type of topography called karst, which develops in regions with soluble bedrock like limestone. The "holes" are the extensive network of caves, sinkholes, and underground drainage systems that form as water dissolves the rock. 

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Here's a breakdown of how the comparison works:

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• The "cheese" is the bedrock: In a karst landscape, the solid foundation is a type of soft, permeable rock, most commonly limestone.

• The "holes" are dissolved by acidic water: As rainwater falls, it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and soil, creating a weak carbonic acid. This slightly acidic water seeps into cracks and fractures in the bedrock and slowly dissolves the rock over thousands of years.

• A network of conduits is formed: This constant dissolution enlarges the cracks into subterranean channels, caves, and caverns.

• Springs are the exits: Springs are a natural outlet for this underground plumbing system. They occur where the pressurized groundwater finds its way back to the surface through an opening in the "Swiss cheese" bedrock. The Florida springs system is a prime example.

• The Florida peninsula's bedrock is often described this way because it is made of limestone that is riddled with holes and caverns created by a very active karst system. This highly porous, interconnected aquifer is the source for hundreds of springs throughout the state. Karst systems are vulnerable.

• The "Swiss cheese" description also highlights the vulnerability of these systems. Because the water travels rapidly through underground channels with minimal filtration, karst aquifers are highly susceptible to contamination from surface activities. Pollutants can quickly enter the groundwater through sinkholes and other openings and appear later in a spring. 

 

More info from Univ. of South Florida:

https://www.stpetersburg.usf.edu/news/2024/on-the-history-science-wonderment-florida-springs.aspx

 

DEP on Springs:

https://floridadep.gov/springs

 

Florida Springs Council:

https://www.floridaspringscouncil.org/

 

Springs in the Florida Wildlife Corridor:

The Florida Wildlife Corridor contains numerous springs, including major ones like Silver Springs, Rainbow Springs, and Wakulla Springs, along with many others within areas like the Ocala National Forest. The corridor protects portions of 171 first and second magnitude springs (does not include smaller springs located in the Corridor), which are vital for both wildlife and the state's water supply. These protected areas support critical habitats for species like manatees and are important for recreational activities such as swimming, paddling, and diving.  

 

171 springs: 

This number represents the first and second magnitude springs located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. 

 

Outstanding Florida Springs: 

Portions of 23 of the state's 30 Outstanding Florida Springs are within the corridor. 

 

Total Springs: 

While 171 is the specific count for large springs, the corridor likely contains many more smaller springs, given that Florida has over 1,000 recorded springs in total.