We took a side trip to Blue Spring Park, the closest Florida spring to us. Grace and the girls met us there. It was about a forty five minute drive west of us.
There are many Florida crystal springs that flow up from the Floridian aquifer that extends underground from Florida to Georgia, Alabama and parts of South Carolina and even out under the ocean. Its 100,000 square miles are made up of limestone layers and caverns that trap and layer the water. These structures may be remnants of ancient coral reefs.
Unlike our aquifer, the Floridian upper aquifer which supplies most of the drinking water for north and central Florida, can be replenished by rainfall in the upper range where the soil is permeable and water can percolate fairly easily. There are several large lakes in this area that contribute to the resupply. The rapid replenishment also makes it susceptible to contamination even though the rock, sand and gravel provide some filtering.
The spring at Blue Spring park is a first magnitude spring, the highest flow rating, at 64 million gallons daily. Florida has the highest number of such springs globally. I love how David can usually add new perspective to my wonder. He is thinking about how all of Florida, including the bridges, roads, skyscrapers and homes are sort of floating on a fragile layer above this huge flowing underground water source.
We walked to the place they call the boil where the water exits the earth. We are in awe of this beautiful place.
