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Wonder
Tarpon Hole (King’s Spring)
  In short
One of the best places to observe manatees is around the King’s Spring (Tarpon Hole). This is a very powerful, subaquatic spring which can be accessed from the sea.
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Map of the site
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In detail
King’s Bay
In the 240 ha large King’s Bay there are some 50-70 large springs which all together form the second most powerful group of springs in Florida after Wakulla Spring.
These springs all together form a fairly large river – Crystal River which is only some 12 km long. There is almost no fall in the river – at its mouth, Crystal River is… 0 meters above sea level. Thus the seawater can reach up to the mouth of the river in the King’s Bay – the water here is brackish – slightly salty.
Description of King’s Spring
Most likely, the most powerful spring there is King’s Spring or Tarpon Hole (next one might be Hunter Spring). This spring emanates from the bottom of King’s Bay and has formed some 140 – 170 m large and 6 m deep, conical depression. Earlier it was reported that the depression was up to 20 m deep. Water comes from an area in the limestone rock with multiple openings and fractures – these might be consequences of a fairly recent collapse of the spring cave.
In calm weather, there is well visible the boil of water above the spring.
Water from this spring is very clean and the area around the spring has an abundance of life – fishes and manatees.
The spring is a very popular dive site and can get very crowded. Near the spring vent has been installed a brass sculpture of manatee.
Manatees
Springs maintain a constant temperature of water in King’s Bay – 22 °C. During the winter the water temperature in the sea can be somewhat lower and sea animals come then in the warmer waters of King’s Bay.
More than 400 manatees happen to live in the waters around Tarpon Hole – an unforgettable sight! This is the only place in Florida where people are allowed to interact with manatees, e.g. to swim with them. During the winter the access is limited in order not to disturb manatees but during the summer numerous divers are coming here in the hope to meet some manatees and dive together with these calm animals.
References
- King’s (or Tarpon or Tarpon Hole) Spring. Springs Fever: A Field & Recreation Guide to 500 Florida Springs. Last accessed on 3rd May 2019.
- King’s Bay/Crystal River Springs Resoration Plan, prepared by The Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute, February 2016. Last accessed on 4th May 2019.
Linked articles
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.
Springs
Powerful natural freshwater springs belong to the most fascinating monuments of nature. Even more exciting is the diversity of unusual springs – mineral springs, hot springs, submarine springs as well as the unusual black smokers. Especially beautiful are such natural rarities as travertine, silica, or salt terraces created by warm and hot springs and, especially, geysers.
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.
Recommended books
Florida Natural Wonders: 101 Slices Of Heaven That You Can’t Miss When Visiting Florida
Are You Ready for a Breathtaking Experience Through the Heart of Florida, Exploring Its Most Famous Wonders and Attractions?
If you want a guide that will help you find the most beautiful spots in this gorgeous state, then keep reading because this is the book you were looking for!
FLORIDA SPRINGS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Your Guide to the Best of Florida’s Springs, Parks and Recreations
The author started gathering information for this unique guidebook of Florida Springs over 40 years ago. In 1973 Robert F. Burgess began diving and photographing the underwater caves associated with Florida’s labyrinthine freshwater springs long before scuba divers had such things as depth gauges, personal flotation devices, or cave divers training programs. He attributes his survival in what has been called “the world’s most dangerous sport” to the fact that he always stayed within sight of the way out of these underwater sites.
