Crystal River
North Gulf Coast of Florida

This is a rural area with a collection of small towns of which Crystal River is one of the biggest with a sizable population of 4,000, consisting mainly of retirees who prefer the quiet of the countryside to the hectic urban areas.

ANCIENT SHELL MOUNDS...
Originally a seasonal hunting ground for the Native Americans who inhabited the area, as time went by the costal population increased and small communities were formed. They relied on the rich marine estuaries to provide food for their growing families - the shell mounds that are scattered throughout the area are evidence that food was certainly plentiful. The tallest mound is referred to as the First Temple Mound, a large shell heap from which you can see the Gulf of Mexico. It is 107 feet in length by 50 feet wide with an 80 foot ramp extending to the northeast forming a causeway to a burial area. Through time a large part of the mound has been excavated by the land owner to be used to fill in other areas. During the excavations charcoal lenses were discovered which have subsequently been carbon dates to 600AD. With the creation of the Crystal River Preserve State Park, the area now derives a lot of its income from ecotourism and is known for its fresh water springs that disgorge millions of gallons of cool clear spring water from the ground.

SWIM WITH THE GIANT MANATEE...
The area is sometimes called the Manatee Coast, due to the number of manatees that can be found there in the winter. These magnificent creatures are related to the elephant and are completely herbivorous - they eat aquatic plants and can consume 10-15% of their body weight daily. Manatees are a migratory species that can be found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals and coastal areas. These gentle and slow-moving mammals spend most of their time eating, resting, and traveling. They are found in the warm waters around Florida in the winter months, but can be found as far west as Texas and as far north as Virginia in the summer months. Manatees have no natural predators, living for up to 60 years or more. They have become endangered due to the loss of their habitat and contact with man - the majority of human-related manatee mortalities occur from collisions with boats. Other causes include being crushed and/or drowned in canal locks and flood control structures, ingestion of fish hooks, litter and monofilament line and entanglement in crab trap lines. For those who wish to get up close and personal with the manatees, visitors are allowed to snorkel or scuba among them but be warned, touching them is not allowed. Alternatively, for those wishing to stay dry, there is an underwater observatory at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park.

'MERMAIDS'...!
One attraction worth a mention is Weeki Wachee Springs and its incredible underwater theatre. Founded in 1946 by Newton Perry - a former U.S. Navy diving instructor who trained SEALS during World War II - Weeki Wachee went on to become one of the nation’s most popular tourist attractions. Newton Perry developed a system of air hoses that allowed swimmers to spend long periods under water without any cumbersome breathing apparatus attached to their backs, creating the illusion that it was possible to thrive under water. He then built an 18 seat theatre that was submerged below the surface and hired local girls to act as mermaids, entertaining passing guests. It became the location for movies such as 'Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid', before being purchased by ABC in 1959 and expanded to hold 500 guests 16 feet below the surface. ABC developed the shows, introducing elaborate props and entertaining story lines. Potential mermaids came from all over the world to try out for the privilege of performing at Weeki Wachee and the shows attracted a cult following with celebrities including Esther Williams and Elvis paying a visit to the theatre. Today, mermaids can still be seen swimming in the cool waters and mermaids of yesteryear return periodically to perform to capacity crowds. In 1982, Buccaneer Bay opened with its collection of waterslides and white sandy beaches - this together with the Misunderstood Creatures show and the riverboat rides makes this a perfect family day out.

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