Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Rainbow Springs State Park

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Nearest city
  
Dunnellon

Designated
  
October 1971

Area
  
1,000 acres (4.0 km)

Phone
  
+1 352-465-8555

Rainbow Springs State Park

Location
  
Marion County, Florida, USA

Governing body
  
Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Address
  
10830 SW 180th Avenue Rd, Dunnellon, FL 34432, USA

Management
  
Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Similar
  
Rainbow Springs, Ichetucknee Springs State Park, KP Hole, Silver Springs State Park, Wekiwa Springs State Park

Rainbow springs state park florida


Rainbow Springs State Park is a Florida State Park located on U.S. 41, three miles (5 km) north of Dunnellon, Florida. It comprises 1,459.07 acres (5.9046 km2) upland (which includes around 100 acres (0.40 km2) of wetlands) and 12.83 acres (51,900 m2) submerged. The most significant natural feature is the first magnitude headspring basin which produces up to 600,000,000 US gallons (2,300,000 m3) of fresh water per day, forming The Rainbow River. The looking glass waters of Rainbow Springs come from several vents, not one large bubbling spring. The river itself supports a wide variety of fish, wildlife, and plants, many within easy viewing by visitors. In total, the park contains 11 distinct natural communities, including sandhills, flatwoods, upland mixed forests, and hydric hammocks.

Contents

Visitors are able to see a variety of wildflowers in season; oak, longleaf pines, magnolia, dogwood, red maple, redbud, cypress, sabal, and hickory trees; gray squirrels, red-shouldered hawks, swallowtail kites, barred owls, whitetail deer, and a wide variety of wading birds. The relative peace and quiet of the winter season offers much for the nature enthusiast. There is an interpretive room located in the visitor center displaying historical, natural, and cultural resources of the park.

The best of rainbow springs state park swimming with alligators


GeographyEdit

The Rainbow River flows from Rainbow Springs into the Withlacoochee River.

EcologyEdit

Among the wildlife of the park are gray squirrels, otter, turtles, alligators and many types of birds. Among the birds are songbirds, hummingbirds, red-shoulder hawks, and swallowtail kites, as well as osprey, barred owls, and various water birds. There is a 2-mile (3.2 km) nature trail.

Recreational activities and amenitiesEdit

Activities include swimming, snorkeling, canoeing and kayaking, and wildlife viewing. Amenities include a nature trail, a full service campground, a picnic area with pavilions, canoes and kayak rentals, and gardens, as well as access to the Rainbow River. There are also waterfalls and phosphate pits from former open mining activity. There used to be a small zoo complex in the gardens. Some of the facilities still exist but are no longer used. At the entrance there is a small visitor center, shop, snack bar and restrooms, located in an elevated position above Rainbow Springs with a good view along the Rainbow River.

HoursEdit

Florida state parks are open between 8 a.m. and sundown every day of the year (including holidays).

References

Rainbow Springs State Park Wikipedia