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See Manatees at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge Also the best place in the entire world to swim with manatees in crystal clear water |
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Crystal River NWR 1502 S.E. Kings Bay Drive Crystal River, FL 34429
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge on Florida's Gulf Coast protects Florida's largest concentration of manatees.
Manatee watchers using area motels, restaurants and dive shops add an estimated $7 million to the local economy annually.
Many of the manatees congregate around the system of springs in Kings Bay that daily produce 600 million gallons of 72-degree F fresh water. To protect manatees from harassment, seasonal sanctuaries exist in Kings Bay from Nov. 15 to March 31; check annually for the latest information. Although many manatees enjoy interacting with snorkelers, some do not. The sanctuaries, clearly marked with buoys, provide an undisturbed resting area for shy animals and those wanting a respite from human contact. In addition, parts of Kings Bay have designated idle, no-wake and slow speed zones, from September through April.
Entrance to King Spring, the most popular snorkel site, is limited to a corridor set aside for snorkelers. Anglers are no longer allowed to drop a line directly over the spring, something for which divers and snorkelers are grateful. The spring is closed from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
If you decide to snorkel with the manatees, always allow the animal to approach you. Never chase it. If you do, you could face a possible $100,000 fine and 1 year in jail. It is illegal to pursue, harass, harm annoy or molest a manatee.
As if these penalties aren't incentive enough for good behavior, some conservation organizations would like to keep snorkelers completely away from Crystal River 's manatees. Seeing the creatures underwater face to face is a privilege none of us can afford to abuse. Crystal River and the town of the same name are located about 80 miles north of Tampa at the junction of U.S. 44 and U.S. 19. The best time to view manatees is early in the morning on a cold weekday (a wet suit is mandatory). More people are present on weekends. Manatees don't mind a few snorkelers at a time, but when a horde of flippered folk show up, the animals move away from the most accessible viewing areas. Since
manatees are big business, local dive shops know precisely
where the manatees are apt to be found on any given day. Dive shops
also rent small john boats with engines
of 10hp and under, well suited for Crystal River. When waves in the
nearby Gulf of Mexico look like Alpine peaks, Crystal River has only
small ripples on its surface. Contact information: 352/563-2088. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Website: www.fws.gov/crystalriver/.
For
information about facilities, contact the Citrus County
Chamber of Commerce, 28 NW Hwy. 19, Crystal River, FL 34429-3900;
352/ 795-3149. Website: citruscountychamber.com
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