Manatee Springs ...

A short drive .. less than an hour from Gainesville

to Chiefland and Manatee Springs State Park.
I'm lovin that annual State Park Pass.

An extensive boardwalk from the perimeter of
the springs to the Suwannee River...
yes .. I did see a gator in the river.
The Gator Nation is everywhere !!
The view from the end of the boardwalk...
looking from the Suwannee River into the Springs.

Springs are classified by the volume of water discharged.
Manatee Springs is a first magnitude spring that produces
over 80,000 gallons of water per minute.
Flowing into the Suwannee River and then into the
Gulf of Mexico about 25 miles away.

Manatees inhabit the springs from November to April.
Enjoying the comfort of the springs 72° temperature.
So I'll be baaack to snap a few pics .