Crystal River
Encounter Manatees in Crystal Waters
The Crystal River is a spring-fed river and the main spring creates Kings Bay, a large expansive bay with the spring in the center. At any time of year, you will more than likely meet a manatee while paddling in Kings Bay and the surrounding canals and springs. But each winter, the area is home to North America’s largest gathering of these gentle giants, offering even more opportunities to see them in their natural habitat.
From Kings Bay the river flows westward about 7 miles toward the Gulf Of Mexico. As it approaches the Gulf, it becomes an estuary and the scenery changes from highly developed freshwater bays and canals to sawgrass marshes, mud flats and open water. There are several access points in the beginning of the river, as well as one in the middle and one at the mouth. This makes it easy to explore the river and encounter its most famous residents!
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