 | Enjoy a diverse collection of almost 100 Florida maps. Click here for MAPS |
| Fl rentals such as Anna Maria Island's www.annamaria.com offers plenty of information on the island as well as information on rentals, things to do, restaurants and the area of Bradenton which is situated in Manatee county on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Tourism plays a primary role in the state's economy; in 1996 alone, visitors to Florida spent over $48 billion. Attractions include Walt Disney World, a massive cluster of theme parks near Orlando that is one of the world's leading tourist attractions; Universal Studios, a combination theme park and film and television production facility, also near Orlando; these and other attractions draw millions of vacationers yearly. Thousand of rental properties are available to suit all budgets however care needs to be taken, please see annamaria.com for tips in choosing the right accommodation. Famous for its beaches, Florida boasts Miami Beach, Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale to attract hordes of the young, vibrant crowd - but for those requiring a more peaceful environment try the beautiful Anna Maria Island on the west coast with its seven miles of white sand beaches and Fl Rentals (see annamaria.com.) With more than 4,000 sq mi (10,360 sq km) of inland water and with the sea readily accessible from almost anywhere in the state, Florida is a fishing paradise. Other attractions include Everglades National Park, with its unusual plant and animal life, Sanibel Island's picturesque resorts and Palm Beach with its palatial estates. Cape Canaveral is the site of the John F. Kennedy Space Center, and many defense and scientific-research companies are in the area. Space flights, including those to the moon and the space shuttle missions, have been launched from Cape Canaveral. There are also major air and naval facilities, especially near Tampa and Pensacola. Construction is a major industry in fast-growing Florida, and Miami is a center of international (especially Latin American) trade. The Sunshine State of Florida is famous for travel and tourism and its production of corn, tomatoes, and citrus fruits including oranges, grapefruits and tangerines. Cattle and dairy products also play a part in the economy, as does commercial fishing, with a catch that includes shrimp, crab and lobster - but the most important industry of all is Tourism. Millions of people visit Florida every year and of these the well-informed travelers find the islands on the West Coast preferable. Often called the quiet side of Florida, it is also home to some gorgeous Fl rentals. The Florida peninsula, warmed by surrounding subtropical and tropical waters and cooled by the trade winds, is famous for its pleasant climate, abundant sunshine, and scenery. The NW of Florida is a gently rolling panhandle area, cut into by deep swamps along the Gulf coast. St. Mary's River in the northeast and a river in the northwest align to form part of the boundary with Georgia and Alabama. Much of the east coast is shielded from the Atlantic Ocean by narrow sandbars and barrier islands that protect the shallow lagoons, rivers, and bays. Immediately inland, pine and palmetto flatlands stretch from the Georgia border almost to the southern tip of the state. Central Florida abounds in lakes, the largest being Lake Okeechobee. Florida Everglades, including Big Cypress Swamp, is a unique wilderness region of subtropical plant growth and animal life and extends over the center of the southern part of the peninsula. Florida's SW coast, on the Gulf of Mexico, is dotted with tiny islands and the Florida keys extend south and west from the southern tip of the state, are linked to the mainland by a causeway. Florida is separated from Cuba to the south by the Straits of Florida. Florida's leading manufactured items are food products, printed and published materials, electrical and electronic equipment, and transportation equipment. Lumber and wood products are also important. Most of the state's timber is yellow pine. Florida's mineral resources include phosphate rock, sand, and gravel. In 1968, Florida adopted a new state constitution. The governor is elected for a term of four years, and the legislature has a senate of 40 members and a house of representatives of 120 members. The state also elects 23 representatives and 2 senators to the U.S. Congress and has 25 electoral votes. The state has authorized the creation of special governing districts that give to commercial entities certain rights usually restricted to elected governments. A special district approved for Disney World in the 1960s allows it to oversee land drainage and its powers have since that date been vastly expanded. Florida is solidly Republican in presidential elections, supporting the Democratic candidate only once since 1968. Democrat Lawton Chiles, elected governor in 1990 and reelected in 1994, was succeeded by Republican John Ellis "Jeb" Bush, elected in 1998 and reelected in 2002. Charlie Crist, also a Republican, won the governorship in 2006. Florida's institutions of higher education include the Univ. of Florida, at Gainesville; the Univ. of Miami, at Coral Gables; Florida State Univ. and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical Univ., at Tallahassee; Univ. of Central Florida, at Orlando; Rollins College, at Winter Park; the Univ. of Tampa and the Univ. of South Florida, at Tampa; Florida Southern College, at Lakeland; Stetson Univ., at De Land; Barry College, at Miami; and Bethune-Cookman College, at Daytona Beach. Early Spanish and French Exploration Although earlier navigators probably sighted the Florida peninsula, a Spanish explorer named Juan Ponce de Leon is credited as the first European to visit the area. Seeking the fabled Fountain of Youth, he landed near in northern Florida, near what is now called St Augustine in 1513. He claimed the area, which he thought was an island, for Spain and named it Florida, after (Pascua Florida) otherwise known as Easter. Other Spanish adventurers, notably de Soto and Narvaez later explored the region, establishing the fact that Florida was not an island. The vast region that comprises most of the SE United States was then claimed for Spain, the whole being known as Florida. It was the subsequent activity of the French in the area that led to actual Spanish settlement of the Florida peninsula. In May 1562, Jean Ribaut had discovered the St. Johns River, and two years later René de Laudonnière built Fort Caroline at its mouth. Alarmed at this encroachment by the French, Philip II of Spain commissioned Pedro Menéndez de Aviles to ruthlessly drive the French out of the area. Spanish colonization began when Menéndez founded St. Augustine in 1565. Unlike Mexico and Peru, Florida had no precious metals to encourage conquest and its soil seemed infertile. Additionally the Native Americans truly resented their encroachment but the Spanish were compelled to hold Florida because of its strategic location along the Straits of Florida in the south, whence rich treasure ships sailed for Spain. English Colonization In order to expand their American holdings, the English then began to threaten Florida in the 1600s.St. Augustine was attacked several times by English corsairs and in 1702 was besieged by a force from the English colony operating out of South Carolina. In 1742, English colonists from Georgia under James E. Oglethorpe, Georgia's founder, defeated the Spanish in the battle of Bloody Marsh on St. Simons Island and the Saint Mary's river became Florida's northern boundary. Spain's last-minute entry into the 7 Years War in 1762 cost her Florida, as the British acquired it through the Treaty of Paris (1763). Under the British (1763-83), Florida was divided into the two provinces of East Florida and West Florida. St. Augustine and Pensacola were respectively made the capitals. In 1783 under the Treaty of Paris, Florida was returned to Spain and any colonists abandoned the region, moving to British possessions in the West Indies. Spain's hold over Florida remained tenuous and when boundary disputes developed in the War of 1812, Pensacola served as a British base until captured (1814) by U.S. General Andrew Jackson. After years of diplomatic wrangling, in 1819 Spain reluctantly signed the Adams-Onis treaty ceding Florida to the United States in return for US assumption of the five million dollars in damages that was being claimed from Spain by US citizens. Occupation officially took place in 1821 when Andrew Jackson was appointed Military Governor. Florida's present territorial boundaries were defined in 1822, and William P. Duval became its first Territorial Governor. Settlers then poured in from neighboring states, especially around the newly founded capital of Tallahassee where a plantation economy flourished. (None could have for seen how the State would change to the Florida we know today with tourism being the main contributor to the economy and thousands of Fl Rentals provided to cater for all these visitors). At that time cotton and tobacco were the chief crops. It then expanded southward displacing the Seminoles, and causing wars with them that seriously impeded Florida's development. A group of Seminole, under Osceola, resisted attempts to move them to the West, but at the end of the Second Seminole War (1835-42) most of them were transported out of the region. A small band fled to the wilderness of the Everglades and their descendants live on reservations in the Lake Okeechobee area. Florida was admitted to the Union in 1845 as a slaveholding state. When Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860, proslavery sentiment in Florida led the state to secede from the Union the following year, joining the Confederacy. Florida furnished salt, cattle and other vital supplies to the Confederacy and the battle of Olustee (Feb. 20, 1864); one of the most important Civil War engagements was fought in Florida. It proved to be a Confederate victory. After the Civil War, Congress placed Florida under military rule. A constitution was drafted providing for black suffrage and in 1868 the state was then deemed ready to be re-admitted to the Union. Moderate Republicans, some of whom were from the North, had drafted the Constitution and these same Republicans held down the majority of the political appointments until 1876. The Democrats were then returned to power and African Americans were once again relegated to an inferior position. In 1885 a new Constitution replaced the Reconstruction charter of 1868. Florida Land Booms In 1881 Florida sold 4,000,000 acres (1,618,800 hectares) of land to a motley assortment of real-estate promoters. Prominent northern capitalists like Henry M Flagler constructed railroads and hotels and Florida began to develop. The drainage of the Everglades, begun in 1906 started another one of the state's periodic land booms. The subsequent environmental desecration of the Everglades has fairly recently been addressed and large areas are now being restored to their natural state through re-flooding. The most famous of Florida's land booms started after the First World War, reaching its peak in 1925 when land values achieved fantastic heights, only to collapse completely the following year. Florida weathered the depression of the 1930s with the help of the federal World War II found the state prospering from the construction of army, navy and air force installations. After the war the state continued to enjoy phenomenal growth fueled by service men and other personnel that had experienced the joys of living in the warm climate. The virtually unlimited water resources and the pleasant weather were important factors in attracting manufacturing and other industries, in particular, those related to aeronautics which developed at an extraordinary rate. Due to its close proximity to Cuba the state of Florida has often been involved in Cuban affairs. During the latter half of the 19th century, Cubans rebelling against the Spanish received sanctuary and enthusiastic support. Some Floridians profited greatly from the Spanish-American War (1898) when Tampa was the main US base. Florida's relationship with Cuba became even closer as it moved into the 20th cent. Political refugees from the Cuban revolution of 1958-59 poured into Florida by the thousands, creating acute resettlement problems and then in 1980 more than 100,000 Cuban refugees flooded into the United States, mostly through Florida. Fidel Castro had briefly opened the port of Mariel to a flotilla of privately chartered US ships. In the early 1990s, Florida was again the receiving ground for thousands of Haitian refugees following the 1991 military coup in that country and another wave came in from Cuba in 1994. Miami has been profoundly influenced by the massive influx of Cubans and other Caribbean people, both culturally and commercially and the with these connections the city functions admirably as the trade center of Latin America, thus demonstrating the advantages of a multi cultural society. For decades Florida has been one of the fastest growing states in the country for decades and during the 1980s it surpassed Ohio, Illinois, and Pennsylvania to become the fourth largest state. It still retains that position. Thousands of retired persons have settled in the state, particularly in St. Petersburg on the west coast and on the eastern coast from West Palm Beach to the vicinity of Miami, nicknamed the "Gold Coast." The central interior of the state is now the fastest growing region, with massive investment particularly the corridor along Interstate 4 connecting the Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg areas through Orlando and over to Daytona Beach. Florida is subject to hurricanes, and extensive development during recent decades has led to an increase in the damages caused by such storms. Hurricane Andrew devastated much of South Florida in 1992, leaving over 200,000 people homeless and costing insurers more than $15 billion. Again, inn 1995, Hurricane Opal raged along the Panhandle coast. Four hurricanes struck Florida in 2004, resulting in widespread damage, and Hurricane Wilma also caused extensive damage in S Florida in 2005. In 1994 the state approved a $685 million program to restore the deteriorating Everglades ecosystem, and in 1996 the federal government substantially enlarged the Everglades plans. In November 2000, Florida became the focus of national and world attention when George W. Bush and Al Gore found themselves separated by a thin margin in the contest for the state's electoral votes, which both needed to win the presidency. As the drama unfolded, Bush held a lead of a few hundred votes out of several million. The outcome was bitterly fought over in the state government, state and federal courts, and the media had a "field day". Ultimately, the good sense of the US Supreme Court weighed in on Bush's side in December, but gaping deficiencies were exposed in the state's voting systems and recount methods. Even the ballot design guaranteed that victory would be tarnished no matter who won and the resulting furor ensured that there was a thorough overhaul of Florida's electoral system. Florida statistics Total Area 58,560 sq mi (151,670 sq km) Population (2000) 15,982,378, a 23.5% increase since the 1990 census Capital, Tallahassee. Largest city, Jacksonville. Statehood March 3 1845 (27th state) Highest point 345 ft (105 m), Walton County Lowest point, Sea Level Nickname The Sunshine State Motto, In God We Trust. State bird Mockingbird. State flower Orange blossom State tree, Palmetto palm. Abbr., Fla.; FLTotal Area - 58,560 square miles Total water area - 4,308 square miles Rank among states in total area - 22nd Length north and south - 447 miles (St. Mary's River to Key West) Width east and west - 361 miles (Atlantic Ocean to Perdido River) Distance from Pensacola to Key West - 792 miles (by road) Highest Natural Point - 345 feet near Lakewood in northeast Walton County Geographic Center - 12 miles northwest of Brooksville, Hernando County Coastline - 1,197 statute miles Tidal shoreline (general) - 2,276 statute miles Beaches - 663 miles Longest River - St. Johns, 273 miles Largest Lake - Lake Okeechobee, 700 square miles Largest county - Palm Beach, 2,578 square miles Smallest county - Union, 245 square miles Number of lakes (greater than 10 acres) - about 7,700 Number of first-magnitude springs - 27 Number of islands (greater than 10 acres) - about 4,500 First permanent European settlement - 1565, St. Augustine, by Spain Organized as territory: March 30, 1821 Admitted to U.S. as state - March 3, 1845 (27th state) Population (2000) 15,982,378, a 23.5% increase since the 1990 census. Population (1980) - 9,739,992 Population growth rate 1980-90 - 32.83% Most populous metropolitan area 1990 - Tampa-Saint Petersburg-Clearwater, 2,067,959 Number of counties - 67 Form of government - Governor and independent cabinet consisting of secretary of state, attorney general, comptroller, treasurer, commissioner of agriculture, and commissioner of education State sales tax - average 6 - 7% State income tax - None Legislature - 120 house districts, 40 senate districts, 23 congressional districts Number of counties: 67 Largest county by population and area: Miami-Dade, 2,376,014 (2005); Palm Beach, 2,034 sq mi. State forests: 31 (more than 890,000 ac.) State parks: 159 (over 723,000+ ac.) 2005 resident population est.:17,789,864 A report from Everglades National Park As the sun slowly sets over the mangrove forest, a lone alligator leaves its lair and searching for food. Some campers are precariously perched on a tent platform just three feet above the brackish water, supposedly out of harms way from large reptiles. The 'gator"moves within a few yards of their camp site or "chickee," that is the Seminole Indian word for dwellings such as this, but seems oblivious to their presence. Instead, it seems more interested in an egret resting at the water's edge, which in truth is of a more manageable size than a human. The 'gator moves in for the kill, but the water bird is too quick, flying off squawking and the "gator has to renew his search for prey. Everglades National Park is one of the United State's most popular visitor destinations. People from around the world visit the area, hoping to experience that wilder side of Florida only usually seen on television documentaries. Exploratory trips can vary in length from overnighters to weeklong excursions along the 99-mile Wilderness Waterway. Campers in tents or vans have dozens of campsites to choose from, the "chickees" being the most remote, but for the slightly less adventurous, the land and beach sites also have a unique charm. During the winter months, the park is frequented with travelers and forward rental reservations are definitely advisable For more information, In summer months, some of the park becomes inaccessible or unsuitable for visitors so it is worth spending some time planning your route and pre-booking your venues. With literally hundreds of great rental campsites, from deserted coastal islands ideal for tents to full-service campgrounds that can accommodate luxury recreational vehicles, Florida is "camper heaven". North Florida If the thought of rolling dunes covered in sea oats inspires you, Grayton Beach State Park in the Beaches of South Walton is undoubtedly one of the state's last great, unspoiled beaches. The park offers visitors a chance to see what Florida looked like when the Spanish explorers first arrived on its shores. With 30 furnished Florida rentals two-bedroom cabins and a 37-site campground, complete with water and electrical hookups and a centrally located restroom facility the campground proves popular with travelers. The cabins and campsites are all within easy walking distance of the beach. The 200-site Fort Pickens campground is located within the boundaries of Gulf Islands National Seashore near Pensacola. It offers great waterside camping. Tent campers have their own space, but RV enthusiasts will also find a warm welcome. The nearby fort, built in 1834 to defend Pensacola Bay, is most famous for housing the Apache war chief Geronimo. Reservations can be made through the national park reservation system, Destin's publication Camping on the Gulf Holiday Travel Park allows visitors a direct view of the emerald green Gulf of Mexico and with more than 200 sites on the water, as well as nearby cycling trails and a playground it is fun for all the family. Northwest Florida doesn't have a monopoly on great beach camping. St. Augustine's Anastasia State Park has beautiful wooded campsites within easy walking distance of the Atlantic Ocean and it is a favorite destination for birders hoping to catch fall migrations. The 139 wooded campsites accommodate both tents and RVs, each equipped with a picnic table and a fire ring. The great commodity here is shade, which is so welcome during the hot the summer months. Nearby, the privately run Ocean Grove Camp Resort is also close to the sandy beaches and St. Augustine's interesting historic area. This resort has some amenities for kids, including a playground and volleyball court, as well as a boat ramp and bait for fishermen. Head inland and you'll see what Stephen Foster was thinking about when he wrote the Florida state anthem. Suwannee River State Park is a popular waterside stopping-off point for canoeists with 31 sites, complete with electrical hookups, grills and picnic tables. This is one of the few state parks in Florida where pets are welcome. Other options include the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park & Campgrounds in Live Oak, Suwannee River Hideaway Campground and Yellow Jacket Campground, which boasts highly, rated private facilities in Old Town and riverfront campsites. In Flagler Beach, the Bulow Plantation RV Resort has plenty of oak-shaded campsites, 364 to be exact. Campfires are permitted, and cable television hook-ups are available as well. So you do not miss your favorite soap or ball game. Central Florida Located at the confluence of the Tomoka and Halifax rivers, Tomoka State Park has some of the most beautiful live oak trees in the state of Florida. With its boat ramp and more than 100 campsites it is popular with travelers. Visitors should be aware, however, that rigs longer than 34 feet or higher than 11 feet couldn't be accommodated due of the low-hanging limbs of the live oaks. Visitors can follow the natural trails that wind through forests once inhabited by Timucuan Indians, soaking up the atmosphere of long ago. The park also rents out canoes for the adventurous to explore nearby rivers. Ocala National Forest boasts freshwater springs that are a big draw to campers who can bathe and swim in fresh, cool clear temperate waters. Alexander Springs Recreation Area about 30 miles southeast of Ocala and Salt Springs Recreation Area, about 25 miles northeast of Ocala, have picnicking, canoeing, hiking and swimming in 72-degree water springs. A third spot, Juniper Springs Recreation Area is one of the oldest and most well known camping areas in the forest. It is about 25 miles east of Ocala and also nationally and internationally known for its great swimming and snorkeling. For a different kind of camping that is accessible only by private boat or ferry, Hontoon Island State Park near DeLand on the St. John's River has six "rustic" cabins and 12 primitive campsites. This park is considered to be one of Florida's most naturally wild destinations. As a traditionally native Timucuan site, Hontoon Island's greatest claim to fame is a large owl totem, carved from a single log, which was found in nearby waters. A replica of the original now stands in the picnic area as it is now safely housed in a museum South Florida Cayo Costa State Park on Florida's southwest coast is accessible by private boat or public ferry. This favorite retreat for fishermen and shell collectors has Gulf-front cabins, campsites and cabins along the bay. Seven miles of virgin beach make Cayo Costa a place to walk for hours and forget about civilization. Campers should be aware that they should only take what they can carry. It is best to travel light and visit during the cooler months when insects are less of a concern. There is no phone service to the island, but you can call the ranger station in Boca Grande for help, so take a mobile phone and some emergency rations and information when setting out on this adventure. Bahia Honda State Park on Big Pine Key is straight out of a Jimmy Buffet song… turquoise-colored water, palm trees and sugar-sand beaches. Florida Keys camping doesn't get any better than this and, as a result, campsites are at a premium. The park is home to 3 different campgrounds, each with its own allure, and reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance. The 48-acre site fl rentals Buttonwood Campground can handle everything from RVs to tents. The 33-Sandspur sites, smaller, with lower clearance, are in a hardwood hammock and can accommodate pop-up tent trailers. The eight Bayside Campground sites have no electricity and limited facilities. Another Keys' camping alternative is the Key Largo Campground & Marina. The spacious waterfront sites have water and electric hook-ups and there are two pools, laundry facilities and a convenience store. Historical Background Florida's name comes from the Spanish word for flowery and is associated with Easter. The famous Spanish conquistador Ponce de Leon gave it the name on April 2nd, 1513 in honor of the day he landed there, Pascua Florida, or 'Flowery Easter'. Over the next 400 years the peninsula remained in Spanish control, though often only tenuously. Spanish Pensacola, the first European colony in this new world was established here in 1559, but the city was abandoned then just three years later and not repopulated until the late 17th century. Throughout subsequent years, a brittle control was maintained via a policy of converting the local Native American population to Catholicism. The British laid claim to the territory after the Peace of Paris from 1763 until their resounding defeat at the hands of American revolutionary forces. Transferred again to Spanish control in 1783, it was finally ceded to the United States in 1819 in exchange for U.S. renouncement of claims on Texas. Florida became the 27th state on March 3 1845. It then seceded from the union at the outbreak of the Civil War and was reinstated on June 25th 1868. Florida is the most southern of the American states and at its most southern point, Key West; it is a mere 60 miles from the island nation of Cuba. Florida Demographics Florida was the least populous state in the union until about the middle of the last century when immigrants from Rust Belt states found themselves attracted to the pleasant climate and thousands of miles of beaches. Today those same qualities attract upwards of 60 million visitors a year. The revenue from tourism allows for no state income tax. The aerospace industry is also important to the state's economy having been drawn there by the establishment of the U.S. Kennedy Space Center in the 1960's. Demographically, Florida has the highest percentage of Cubans and elderly retired citizens in the whole of the USA. A highly contentious swing state, Florida came to the forefront of American politics in the 2000 election when its Supreme Court was charged with ruling on the disposition of the state election results. Once this internationally infamous event was settled, the state cast its electoral votes for George W Bush over Democratic opponent Al Gore. Florida Springs Archaeological evidence indicates that people have been attracted to Florida's springs for thousands of years. Geologists estimate that there are more than 700 springs in the state of Florida, representing what may be the largest concentration of freshwater springs on Earth. These springs made the perfect home for Native Floridians who used them as a source of water and food, while the clay taken from the spring's bottom provided material for making arrowheads, spear heads and knives. Now extinct and mighty animals such as the mastodon, mammoth, ground sloth, giant beaver and giant armadillo coexisted with the first human spring dwellers. During the last Ice Age, 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, sea level was as much as 300 feet below its present day levels. As the last of the Ice Age came to a close in Florida, many environmental changes were occurring. Global weather patterns changed and sea levels began to rise. The large animals that had once roamed the Florida landscape were becoming extinct, and ass these drastic changes were taking place, Florida's human inhabitants were forced to adapt. Exploration of Florida Explorers later arrived to Florida, including Ponce de Leon and John & William Bartram who, fascinated drawn to the subterranean discharges of freshwater from springs scattered across central and northern Florida, marveled at these sources. As colonists and settlers began to inhabit Florida, springs continued to be a focus of human activity, serving as locations for Spanish missions, steamboat landings, gristmills and post offices. They were used by local churches for baptisms, sources of drinking water for homesteads and as reservoirs for crop irrigation. In the middle to late 1800s many of Florida's springs served as magnets for development, attracting settlers, tourists and even railroads. A few springs gave birth to towns, including Silver Springs in Marion County, Green Cove Spring in Clay County and De Leon Springs in Volusia County. Healing Powers of The Springs Valued for their perceived therapeutic qualities some of Florida's springs, attracted people who flocked to them to soak in the medicinal waters. Health resorts at several springs attracted thousands of tourists in the early 1900s with visitors seeking the healing powers such as those found in White Springs in Hamilton County. Panacea Mineral Springs in Wakulla County was the site of the 125-guest Panacea Hotel and Worthington Springs, in Union County, now completely dry, once beckoned health-seeking visitors to drink from and bathe in their healing waters. Warm Mineral Springs, in Sarasota County, still attracts visitors to its Fl rentals and for the year-round 87-degree waters. Many Florida springs provide recreational opportunities for swimmers, boaters and cave divers such as Blue Spring (Madison County), Ichetucknee Springs (Columbia County) and Blue Spring (Volusia County). Springs continue to attract people with their unique beauty, providing immeasurable natural, recreational and economic benefits for residents and visitors for more than a century. Ginnie Springs is the most popular freshwater diving location in the world and the 15 state parks named for springs across Florida attract more than 2 million visitors and contributing nearly $7 million in revenue annually. For Floridian residents, Citrus County remains home to some of the best springs in the state and is forms a basis for many family and friend memories of warm days, cooling waters and great company, Florida's springs serve as windows to the mysteries of the Floridian Aquifer. The pristine beauty of the springs and the burgeoning bottled water industry has a renewed the interest in spring water while at the same time, many of Florida's diverse wildlife communities continue to depend on careful stewardship of the these most precious assets. The challenge lies in preserving the water quality of Florida's springs while meeting the needs of Florida's residents, visitors and wildlife in equal measures. |