Manatees at Blue Spring State Park Florida
Manatee Cow and Her Calf
Manatees in Florida Come to Blue Spring State Park
The beautiful Blue Spring is the largest warm spring on Florida’s St. John’s River with year around temperatures of 72°. While the warm crystal clear water of Blue Spring State Park is a popular attraction year for swimming, diving and boating, it is also an ideal winter spot for a large number of West Indian manatees bask in the warm Blue Spring. It's one of the best places in Florida to view manatees in their natural habitat.
Designated an Official State Natural Feature.
About 100 million gallons of 72° water flows from the spring to the St. John's River each day via the spring run. In the winter, especially when the temperature is unusually cold, a large population of West Indian Manatees leave the St. John’s river and move into the warm water of the springs. The area has wooden walkways above the spring where visitors can view the manatees without disturbing them. The crystal clear water of the spring is ideal for viewing as well as photographing the big gentle creatures. Because manatees are a threatened species, the park does not allow swimming or water sports in the spring area when the manatees are in residence from mid November until March.
Beautiful Crystal Clear Water at Blue Spring State Park
Manatees Are Related to the Elephant
The boardwalks and viewing platforms above the spring allow visitors to get a close look at the manatees swimming below. Most of the time the big sea cows seem to be oblivious to the people gathered around to observe them.
The West Indian Manatee that lives in Florida is a very large aquatic mammal. Average adult size is 9-11 feet long and 800-1200 pounds. They have a large flat tail that they use as a paddle and two flippers in front with 3 or 4 nails on each that helps them hold food while they are eating. They have no back legs or feet. The manatee has a face that only a mother could love, with deep wrinkles and bristly whiskers. Biologists believe that their closest relative is the elephant.
A Manatee Swims at Blue Springs
Manatees Can Live in Saline Water, Fresh Water or Brackish Water
Manatees generally live along the coast, but do not need salt water to live. They can survive in fresh water, saline water or brackish water. Although they are large, they have a low metabolic rate and lack a thick layer of insulating body fat that would allow the to live in cold water, so they are usually found in Florida in the winter even though they may wander farther afield during the summer —as far as Texas and even as far north as New York City.
A Manatee in the Crystal Clear Water of Blue Springs
Protect the Environment to Protect Our Manatees
An article from WFTV.com (Mar. 20, 2013) reported that 55 manatees have been found dead in the Brevard County, Florida Indian River Lagoon. Although the exact cause of death has not been pinpointed, autopsies revealed that their stomachs were full of macroalgae, but contained none of the sea grass that is their main diet. It is thought that this was the cause of death. Fertilizer runoff in the area has killed sea grass and is destroying the manatee's habitat.
Read the full article here: http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/manatees-dying-indian-river-lagoon/nWyZK/.
Manatees Are in Danger From Loss of Habitat as Well as Watercraft
The West Indian Manatee has no natural predators. Their largest threats are man-made, one of the major causes of death results from collisions with motorized water craft as they usually swim just under the surface of the water, but are too slow to move quickly out of the way. Manatees are often seen with scars from collisions with motorboat propellers.
Another threat to the manatee is the loss of their habitat. They eat 10-15% of their body weight daily – mostly aquatic plants, but they will also eat small fish and small invertebrates. As coastal and waterfront property becomes more developed, their habitat is threatened. Florida is now taking measures to preserve the manatee habitat and to education the public about manatees.
Birds and Other Wildlife Love the Warm Blue Springs, Too
Manatees Keep Their Calves Close for One to Two Years
Adult manatees are sometimes called sea cows, and their young are referred to as calves. Calves are born about every three years, and nurse from the mother for one to two years. When we observed the manatees at Blue Springs, we saw several mothers with their calves swimming very close. Currently there is an estimated population of 4,480 West Indian Manatees in the U.S.
Best time to see manatees is November and December, although we saw a large number of them at Blue Springs one January when there was a cold snap and they came to the springs to warm up. Because they do not tolerate cold very well, they can die from shock in cold water. They can also die because their digestive tracts shut down in water colder than 68°.
A Female Manatee Swims in the Warm Blue Spring with Her Calf
A View of Anhingas Near the St. John's River by the Blue Springs
Blue Springs State Park - A Beautiful Place to Enjoy Nature
Blue Springs State Park consists of 2,600 acres on the St. John’s River. In addition to the unique area for viewing the Manatees, the park has nature trails, picnic areas and camping. In season, visitors can enjoy swimming, diving, snorkeling and boating. Certified scuba divers can explore the spring if they dive with a partner. There is also a two hour narrated riverboat tour with knowledgeable staff lecturing on the history and unique ecology of the area.
The Water and Shadows Look Like a Monet Painting
The Blue Spring's Waters are Like an Impressionist painting
In addition to the thrill of seeing the large numbers of manatees gathering in the spring, I was fascinated by the colors and beauty of the clear water. As the water ripples and the sun moved across the sky, the water colors changed from blue to green, reflecting back the colors of the sky and the surrounding vegetation.
I hope you have enjoyed my photo gallery of the manatees at Blue Spring State Park in Florida and the photographs that depict the West India Manatees in their natural habitat. I deliberately did not include aquarium photographs which would have shown more detail because I love the abstract feel of the photographs as they captured the changing light and colors of the water.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright ©2011 Stephanie Henkel
Blue Spring State Park, Orange City, Florida

Learn More About Manatees and Blue Spring State Park
Blue Spring State Park website: http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/
Save the Manatee Club: http://www.savethemanatee.org/manfcts.htm
Manatee Facts: http://www.savethemanatee.org/faqbehavior.htm


You may enjoy some of my other hubs about Florida
- St. George Island State Park - Birding and Fishing on the Florida Gulf Coast
St. George Island stretches alone the Gulf of Mexico on the Florida Panhandle. The pristine white sand beaches of St. George Island State Park attract summer visitors as well as winter RVing snowbirds who come to fish, watch birds and enjoy the antic - Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: Bird watchi...
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge is one of the premiere site on the Atlantic Coast to view migrating birds. Included in the 310 species of birds seen at the refuge are bald eagles, rosette spoonbills, wood storks, egrets, herons and many other - RVing Across the Florida Panhandle
Here is a selection of photographs of the Florida Panhandle, from the Gulf Coast to the Apalachicola National Forest. RVing across the Florida Panhandle is an opportunity to see uncrowded white sand beaches, the beautiful Suwanee River and the quiet
Get your very own manatee
Educate kids about manatees
Please Vote and Share if you enjoyed this photo gallery!
Do you know someone who would enjoy this? Click the Share button below to send it to them easily or to post it to Facebook or Twitter.
Please Comment and Vote
I was just wondering if those things are edible?? If so, what would be the best way to hunt these things?? They say they are related to the elephant and I believe they might even have ivory we can sell for a lot of money.I would like to take a bunch of people out there and see if we can get one of those things captured to bring back alive or dead just see what kind of money we can make off of it...
Gorgeous pictures and wonderfully informative article. Makes me miss Florida so much. We used to watch the Manatees swimming in the channels alongside of schools of mullet. Found you on Sunshine Times.
You really should be working for NatGeo! Your research and information are impeccable and we all know your photographs are just amazing. How sad that man is even threatening the manatees!
Voted up, useful, and interesting.
We have these around here as well, but I have yet to see one up close. Thanks for the educational information on these creatures. Your photos are awesome to look at. This park would be a great place to visit.
"Spring Run at Blue Springs State Park. Florida"
"The calves swim very close to their mothers, almost touching"
"Anhingas take a break here"
Those three pics were my favorite! All of the pics were wonderful! You have a talent as a photographer! Yes, that crystal clear water was awesome! I can tell you had a wonderful time visiting the park n Florida! Thanks for showing me the area there...amazing!
Great photos and beautiful and interesting hub.
Outstanding! This is a fascinating hub, Steph. Rated up and across...photos really capture the area so well. Wondering if you are considering a photo book of your work? You surely would have enough to exhibit of your work.
Wow, you're an amazing photographer! =]
I'll definitely add visiting Blue Springs State Park to my bucket list of places to visit. Thanks for sharing!
Well done! Beautiful pictures. I'll have to take the time and visit there! voted up.
My pleasure for sure!
Love it! Beautiful photos - interesting information and I would love to share it with my kids for their education as well. Super impressive hub - again!
I loved seeing all the entries. I never knew so many hubbers were also talented photographers!
I just saw you won the daily drawing!!!! Congrats Stephanie :D
I've been very close to manatees in FL, but I've never been to Blue Spring. Beautiful pics - voted up!
This is so gorgeous! Everything, the water, the scenery, the birds, and yes, even the manatee's face that you claim only a mother could love. I have never seen manatees in the wild, but there are such interesting creatures...they have a similar allure of the dolphin, I suppose. It breaks my heart that they are endangered. I'm glad you're getting words out about them.
Great hub, Stephanie! I love the manatees and the colors in your photos. The colors of the water are beautiful. It looks like such a neat area. I would love to see them sometime like that.
Awesome hub...I loved your pictures so much...I really wish I could see all of this for myself...hopefully some day :) Thanks for sharing!!
Stunning!
Congratulations on winning the daily draw. I have never seen a manatee in person. These are beautiful.
WOW!! To have seen manatees in person... I envy you, Stephanie Henkel! These photos are gorgeous, and I've learned a couple new things about manatees now, too!
Great topic for a hub! Thanks for sharing so many beautiful pictures.
Congrats on reaching 100 hubs!
Beautiful photos to compliment your 100th Hub! Congratulations! Long live the manatee!
When we first moved there, they allowed swimming with the manatees, but I think in 1996 or 97 it was outlawed after someone injured or killed a young manatee.
This is one of the things I miss since I moved from Florida. We lived about 10 miles from Blue Springs, so we went often. Thanks for the great hub as well as a reminder of those memories
Another wonderful hub with stunning pictures from you, Stephanie. Your hubs are always a delight, always reminding to enjoy the beauty life has to offer. Congratulations on your 100th hub and counting!
This is a very interesting hub! I love learning about animals, and I think that manatees are fascinating. Thank your for the information. I would love to visit the Blue Spring State Park and see the manatees myself!
Beautiful hub, I love to see the manatees. And congratulations on your 100th hub!I'm looking forward to the next 100!
This 100th hub is like a beautiful gift. Loved the monet coloring of some of the photos. I didn't know Manatees were so large.
Voted up across the board except for funny.
Congrats on your 100th Hub - it's a great one. Manatees are important because they are a link to the past. Voted up and useful.
Beautiful and awesome photos. I wish I could visit one day but I don't do planes! Maybe if I take a train ride I'll be able to go there one day....
And yes, that one photo DOES look like a Monet painting!
How lovely! The colors are so deep and glowing. I remember seeing manatees when I lived outside of Tampa. They are so gentle and serene. Your Hub is beautiful and the information great.
I have been enjoying your photo gallery hubs even if I don't comment on each one - yet this one just took my breath away.
Your photo composition is amazing, and the photos themselves must have been challenging (trying to take pictures of moving objects is not easy!) Voted UP, beautiful and awesome!
When I teach group swim fitness I always try to bring in the manatee as a "name" of an exercise movement. Oh, what miraculous animals we have in the water! Thank you so much
That's beautiful.I would love to swim with them and cuddle with them. They look so peaceful and beautiful
Excellent wotk.
I saw much of this long ago, in the early and yet unspoiled 50's.
What an interesting animal! I know them as sea cows. It's interesting that their closest relative is the elephant. Manatees may have preferred to stay in water for some reason (or went back to water?). :-) Voted up!
Absolutely astounding work! These photographs are...amazing. I can't think of any other words to use that do justice to this hub :) I am so jealous that you have seen this with your own eyes. I HAVE to take the kids one winter to see the manatee. I just found my next vacation destination. Voted UP
63