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Wonder
Troy Spring
In short
The powerful Troy Spring is located in a somewhat pristine area and is one of most beautiful of the great springs of Florida.
42.3%
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Location, address
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Map of the site
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In detail
Description
The spring is located at the Suwannee River and has formed a small lake with a short, 80 – 100 m long stream falling into Suwannee.
The spring pool is some 36 by 42 m large, 18.6 m deep (at flood time – 21.3 m). Banks of the spring are surrounded by limestone cliffs. At the bottom of the spring are multiple vents but especially impressive is the central vent. Here is the entrance to an underwater cave system – a major part of the spring water flows from it.
The daily flow of the water is around 259 million liters, medium temperature – 21.7 °C.
Life in the springs is abundant – here are lots of turtles, diverse fish, and occasional alligators. Also, people enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving here. Sometimes, though, the level in the Suwannee River rises and brownish river water enters the spring (so-called “brownout”). At these times it is forbidden to swim here.
History of Troy Spring
People have lived around the springs for at least 2,500 years – nearby have been found pottery shards, burial offerings, and hunting gear.
Not far from the springs European immigrants built a town named Troy (now Old Troy). It burned down around 1850 – 1860 and its exact location has not been found.
The best-known man-made monument though is a wreck of a steamship closer to the Suwannee River. The story goes as follows:
The steamship “Madison” was built around 1844-1845 and served as a floating mail service and trading post – roads and railroads in this area were not built yet.
As the American Civil War started, the ship was used by Confederates as a gunboat and privateer. Nevertheless, this activity of the ship was disliked by many sympathizers of the Union and rather frequently Union managed to seize other Confederate vessels.
The young captain and owner of the ship, the 23 years old James Felix Tucker ordered to sink the ship in Troy Spring in order to raise it up after the war. This happened in September 1863. Around 1864 Tucker was wounded and after the war returned to Troy Springs. Unfortunately, there was not much left to raise up: locals took whatever they could from the ship.
Remnants of the ship – ribs, and keel of the hull – are seen in the lucid water up to this day.
Nature conservation area – State Park – was founded there in 1983 and now Troy Spring is a well-tended, charming natural area.
References
- Melissa Watson. Touring the Springs of Florida: A Guide to the State’s Best Springs. 2015. ISBN-10: 9781493001477.
- Troy Spring. Springs Fever: A Field & Recreation Guide to 500 Florida Springs. Last accessed on 17th February 2019.
- Troy Spring. Suwannee River Water Management District, Water Data Portal. Last accessed on 9th September 2023.
Troy Spring is included in the following article:
Linked articles
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 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.
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.
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FLORIDA SPRINGS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Your Guide to the Best of Florida’s Springs, Parks and Recreations
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