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Wonder
Santa Fe Spring
In short
The enormous spring pool of Santa Fe Spring is a testimony of this formerly powerful spring that now has become less impressive. But there are ambitious plans to restore the power and water quality of the spring.
32.5%
GPS coordinates
Location, address
Alternate names
Average discharge
Map of the site
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In detail
Santa Fe Spring is a 2nd magnitude spring. Its mean output in the time period from 1997 to 2023 was 1 689 l/s. (1.) In general, the flow of this spring decreases due to the increased water extraction in the spring area.
Spring pond is 58.5 by 65.5 m large and up to 25.3 m deep (at higher water level). Banks of spring pond are high, forested and allow a fine view over the spring. This is one of the few large springs in this area that thus was was not transformed by recreational use.
This enormous spring pool was shaped by the power of water in earlier times, when Santa Fe Spring was more powerful. Now the spring flows in rainy periods and stops during the droughts. If there is a flood in the nearby Santa Fe River, the flow in the spring reverses. The spring water earlier was clean but now more frequently it is tannic, similar to a river water.
Spring water has a fairly high contamination with nitrates from the agricultural runoff.
Up to 46 m deep cave can be entered through the spring.
In 2019 a land plot with the springs was purchased by Alachua Conservation Trust and Santa Fe Springs Preserve was established around it. Gradually the natural ecosystem is reinstated in this area and tourist infrastructure developed. There are set also goals to increase the spring volume and improve its water quality.
References
- Santa Fe Springs. Suwannee River Water Management District, Water Data Portal. Last accessed on 9th September 2023.
- Two Freshwater Springs Permanently Protected by Alachua Conservation Trust. Alachua Conservation Trust. Last accessed on 25th September 2023.
Linked articles
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Florida Natural Wonders: 101 Slices Of Heaven That You Can’t Miss When Visiting Florida
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