SILVER RIVER, FLORIDA
I had the occasion a year ago to photograph a very interesting river in Florida. The water was crystal clear and so stunningly blue that it virtually shocked me at first glimpse.
The Silver River State Park is just East of Ocala in central Florida. The River is beautiful and abounds with wildlife, boats, canoes, and kayaks. Tour boats and small pleasure crafts are present, but there is a speed limit for the entire length of the river within the park. The river is spring fed and is crystal clear from top to bottom. We were on a small Boston Whaler and had a ball.
Check out their website for more information and a great google map.
The place was teeming with wading birds such as blue herons, little blue herons, great and snowy egrets, and coots. We of course saw gators and snakes, thankfully at a distance. Amazingly enough there is a large contingent of Rhesus monkeys living in the woods. Evidently it is commonplace to see them there. They were introduced and kept on an island in 1936 but swam away to the forest and have propagated ever since. The ever present turtles seemed to be sun bathing on every exposed log. A deer and her fawn rounded out the wildlife count for the day.
There are ample parking facilities, boat ramps, docks, and facilities provided by the park. At the upstream source of this spring fed river is the restaurant and gift shop. Tourist trap type of thing but a good place to take a rest after being on the water. The whole place is well maintained and patrolled. A safe place to expose the kids to nature at her best.
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