Rainbow Springs

Useful Information

Location:	5km north of Dunnellon on the east side of U.S. 41.
Open:	All year daily 8-sundown. [2011]
Fee:	Headsprings Entrance: Adults USD 2, Children (0-5) free. [2011]
Classification:	Karst Spring
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	P=1.8 million m³/day (1.5-2.2), T=23°C.
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Rainbow Springs State Park, 19158 S.W. 81st Place Road, Dunnellon, Florida 34432, Tel: +1-352-465-8555.
Last update:	$Date: 2011/12/13 09:12:08 $

History


1880		became popular with people from nearby boomtown Juliette.
1930s		developed as a tourist attraction.
1960s		new ownership, attraction flourishes.
1972		designated as a Registered Natural Landmark.
1986		designated as an Aquatic Preserve.
1987		designated as an Outstanding Florida Waterway.
1990		acquired by the State of Florida.

Description

Rainbow Springs is the fourth largest spring of Florida. From the 1930s to the 1970s the site was a popular privately-owned attraction. Since then it is managed as a State Park. It is popular for swimming, snorkeling, canoeing, and kayaking. At the spring there is a picnic area with tables, grills, and pavilions. Canoes and kayaks can be rented.

The spring was known to the native Seminole Indians, archaeological evidence indicates that the spring was used for about 10,000 years. The Seminole caled this place Wekiwa. Later it became known under the name Blue Spring by the white settlers. It was renamed in the 1930s when it was developed as a tourist attraction. The reason was simply that both names, Wekiwa and Blue Spring were common in Florida and not distinctive enough for an attraction. So they renamed it Rainbow Spring.

The blue colour of the water is a result of the high amount of limestone in the water. The karst spring is generally called an artesian spring, which means a spring from a confined aquifer containing groundwater under positive pressure. As a result the water rises in the well until it reaches the hydrostatic equilibrium. In this case the pressure and the rising is rater moderate, but the amount of water is enormous. There are many smaller springs which discharge from numerous caves along the entire length of the river. The Rainbow River is only 10km long until it merges with the Withlacoochee River at Dunnellon.

Rainbow Springs

Useful Information

History

Description

See also