Juniper Springs (referred to locally as "the Springs"), located in the

Ocala National Forest The Ocala National Forest ls the second largest nationally protected forest in the U.S. State of Florida. It covers of northern Florida. It is located three miles (5 km) east of Ocala and southeast of Gainesville. The Ocala National ...

east of

Ocala Ocala ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Marion County within the northern region of Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the city's population was 63,591, making it the 54th most populated city in Florida. Home t ...

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, a ...

, is a natural

spring Spring(s) may refer to: Common uses * Spring (season), a season of the year * Spring (device), a mechanical device that stores energy * Spring (hydrology), a natural source of water * Spring (mathematics), a geometric surface in the shape of a h ...

that forms the

headwaters The headwaters of a river or stream is the farthest place in that river or stream from its estuary or downstream confluence with another river, as measured along the course of the river. It is also known as a river's source. Definition Th ...

of Juniper Creek that winds its way to Lake George in the Saint Johns River.

Description

The springs, set in a subtropical forest, are in an oval-shaped pool with

limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms wh ...

caves A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground, specifically a space large enough for a human to enter. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. The word ''cave'' can refer to smaller openings such as sea ...

present on the bottom along with areas of

sand Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a soil texture, textur ...

and aquatic grasses. The pool is approximately and and surrounded by a basin of rock and concrete. Next to the pool is an old

Civilian Conservation Corps The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a voluntary government work relief program that ran from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men ages 18–25 and eventually expanded to ages 17–28. The CCC was a major part o ...

mill house with a waterwheel that used to generate electricity from the spring’s flow for the campsite. Because the Juniper Springs spring-shed is largely within Ocala National Forest, the water isn’t affected by fertilizer and septic tanks, as are many of Florida's springs and rivers. Wildlife includes alligators, deer, raccoon, turtles, bobcats, otters, heron, and innumerable spiders.Allen, Rick
"Kayaking Juniper Springs Run: 7-mile run is fun, but challenging"
''

Gainesville Sun ''The Gainesville Sun'' () is a newspaper published daily in Gainesville, Florida, United States, covering the North-Central portion of the state. The paper is published by Lynni Henderson, the paper's Executive Editor is Douglas Ray and the edi ...

'', Florida, 10 July 2011. Retrieved on 9 August 2019.

Recreation

Juniper Springs Recreation Area--which encompasses the spring, Juniper Creek, and adjoining camping and trails--is a popular recreation spot for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, camping, and hiking. Swimming is particularly popular as the water is 72 degrees, 365 days a year. The Juniper Springs canoe run is a nationally recognized attraction. The run takes between three and five hours to complete, from starting point near the Juniper Springs pool to an exit point off State Road 19 on the way to Lake George. ''ReserveAmerica'' has named Juniper one of the top 25 canoe runs in the U.S. and between 30-35 canoes and kayaks are on the water every day with a record of 100.Crane, Kristine
"Boy Scout’s project may speed up Juniper Run"
''Daytona Beach News-Journal Online'', Florida, 25 April 2015. Retrieved on 8 August 2019.

Gallery

References

External links

Juniper Springs Recreation Area
Ocala National Forest Official Website {{Protected areas of Florida Protected areas of Marion County, Florida Wilderness areas of Florida Springs of Florida Ocala National Forest Bodies of water of Marion County, Florida Civilian Conservation Corps in Florida