Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Infobox_protected_area | name = Ichetucknee Springs State Park
iucn_category = V

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caption =
locator_x = 227
locator_y = 148
location = Columbia County, Florida, USA
nearest_city = Fort White, Florida
lat_degrees = 29
lat_minutes = 58
lat_seconds = 2.47
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 82
long_minutes = 46
long_seconds = 33.82
long_direction = W
area = 2,241 acres
established =
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Ichetucknee Springs State Park is a 2,241 acre Florida State Park located four miles northwest of Fort White off State Road 47 and State Road 238. It centers around the six mile long Ichetucknee River, which flows through shaded hammocks and wetlands into the Santa Fe River. The Park contains hardwood hammock and limestone outcrops. Like many rivers in this part of North Florida, the Ichetucknee is fed by natural springs which boil up (in various holes) from the aquifer. The state of Florida purchased the property in 1970 from the Loncala Phosphate Corporation for $1,850,000.

Biology

Park wildlife includes white-tailed deer, raccoons, wild turkeys, wood ducks and great blue herons. There are also aquatic mammals, fishes and reptiles: ie. turtles, water snakes, juvenile alligators, otters, manatees in the winter months, crayfish, bream, bluegill, largemouth bass, alligator gar, mullet, catfish, and several types of minnows.

Recreational activities

During the summer, one of the most popular park activities is floating down the Ichetucknee River in an innertube. From the end of May until early September, "tubing" down the river is the premier activity in the park. As the water in this spring-fed river is remarkably clear, swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving are extremely popular. The river's year-round temperature is 72 °F (22 °C) and therefore makes for a refreshingly cool escape from the hot afternoon temperatures in the region. Tubes and rafts, as well as snorkeling and diving equipment can be rented from private vendors outside the park.

The tubing season from the North entrance normally begins on May 27th. At the South entrance, the tram service operates from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Rented innertubes and rafts are dropped off (at the end of the trip) in designated areas at the "take-out" point. This is a popular weekend getaway for the students (and faculty) of the nearby University of Florida.

Amenities within this state park include a concession stand, nature trails and picnic tables.

Archaeology

A 17th century Spanish mission site has been identified in the park, next to a short tributary connecting Fig Springs to the Ichetucknee River, about one mile downstream from the head of the river. The mission has been provisionally identified as San Martín de Timucua, which was occupied in the first half of the 17th century. Plans to reconstruct the mission and open it to the public as an interpretational site were dropped. [Weisman, Brent R. 1993. "Archaeology of Fig Springs Mission, Ichetucknee Springs State Park", in Bonnie G. McEwan. ed. "The Spanish Missions of La Florida". University Press of Florida. ISBN 0-8130-1232-5]

Hours

FLparkhrs The Education and Exhibit Center is open Thursday through Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

References

External links

* [http://www.floridastateparks.org/ichetuckneesprings/default.cfm Ichetucknee Springs State Park] at [http://www.floridastateparks.org Florida State Parks]
* [http://www.stateparks.com/ichetucknee_springs.html Ichetucknee Springs State Park] at [http://www.stateparks.com State Parks]
* [http://www.abfla.com/parks/Ichnetucknee/ichnetucknee.html Ichnetucknee Springs State Park] at [http://www.abfla.com Absolutely Florida]
* [http://areas.wildernet.com/pages/area.cfm?areaID=FLSPIS&CU_ID=1 Ichetucknee Springs State Park] at [http://www.wildernet.com Wildernet]
* [http://townoffortwhitefl.com/itchstatepark.html Ichetucknee Springs State Park] at [http://townoffortwhitefl.com Town Of Fort White]
* [http://www.floridasprings.org Florida's Springs]
** [http://www.floridasprings.org/protection/success/ichetucknee Good Neighbors: Ichetucknee Springs State Park]
** [http://www.floridasprings.org/protection/success/ichetucknee Science Helps Protect a Springshed]