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Wonder
Alapaha Rise

In short
The largest single spring in the United States (competing with Silver Springs in Ocala), a rise of the nearby river water.
39.8%
GPS coordinates
Location, address
Alternate names
Type
Average discharge
Map of the site
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In detail
Description

In the pristine Floridian forest near the picturesque Suwannee River hides one of the largest springs in the world – Alapaha Rise.
This First Magnitude spring is a roughly circular, 22 m deep, and 33 by 23 m large basin. All water comes up from a single vent. It does not create a visible upsurge but, nevertheless, the enormous amount of water forms a fast-flowing river that after some 200 m falls into Suwannee River.
Alapaha Rise produces from 10 000 l/s to 28 000 l/s of water and it is assumed that the average flow is 22 700 l/s.
Around the spring rise up to 10 m high limestone cliffs. These cliffs belong to the Suwannee Limestone formation that formed in the Early Oligocene some 30 million years ago.
Contrary to the lucid water of artesian springs this giant spring has darkened, tannic water. This fact alone means that Alapaha Rise is not artesian water but a resurgence of nearby surface water.
And this is a fact: through Alapaha Rise flows a large part of the Alapaha River stream. The main riverbed of Alapaha River falls into Suwannee some 650 m below Alapaha Rise but for a large part of the year it is dry: all water has gone underground towards Alapaha Rise and also Holton River Rise – a smaller spring at Suwannee River several kilometers before Alapaha Rise.
References
- Karst Hydrology of the Upper Suwannee River Basin, Alapaha River Area Hamilton County, Florida, Southeastern Geological Society. Last visited in January 14, 2022.
- Alapaha River Rise, CaveAtlas.com. Last visited in January 14, 2022.
Linked articles

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Wonders of the United States
The United States of America is one of the largest countries in the world and offers a wide array of diverse attractions: many are unsurpassed in the world. Highlights of the United States are cliffs, canyons, and rock formations, several impressive downtowns of cities with numerous skyscrapers as well as a rich array of geothermal features, and the giant forest of California.

Wonders of Florida
Florida is the tropical paradise of the mainland United States. Over the last century, it has experienced fabulous changes, turning from a forgotten, swampy badland into a densely populated and rich land. Highlights of Florida include the architecture of the late 19th and 20th centuries as well as its giant springs and caves.
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