This Central Florida State Park Has Glassy, Turquoise Waters That Are 72 Degrees All Year

"Rainbow Springs State Park's sapphire-blue waters well up from the earth with startling clarity, a living force that has drawn people here for thousands of years-from the Timucua who once gathered along its banks to modern-day visitors floating quietly above the headsprings. "The river is unbelievably clear, the kind of clear that makes it look like a swimming pool, except it's completely natural," says Jessica Heller, marketing and communications supervisor for Ocala/Marion County. That glassy transparency comes courtesy of the Florida aquifer, which releases more than 400 million gallons of fresh water into the spring every day, flowing at a steady 72 degrees year-round."

"Moss-draped hammocks and winding nature trails lead to ornamental gardens, constructed waterfalls, and gentle slopes, remnants of the early 20th century when this was a privately owned tourist attraction. Rich Lucy, area director with guest services at the park, likes to remind visitors that back in the '30s, it was a destination. "People went there to go fishing and swimming. They had glass-bottom boats," he says. "Luckily, it was sold to the state, and it became a state park where people can continue to enjoy it.""

"One of Florida's largest first-magnitude springs, Rainbow Springs anchors a 1,470-acre park that now hums with kayaks gliding over eelgrass, snorkelers drifting above schools of fish, and tubers laughing downstream on summer afternoons. Lucy notes that the river's magic lies not just in the main spring but in what you can't easily see. "Ours are made up of micro springs, hundreds of thousands of these little springs spread out through the entire river. That's what makes it stay that crystal clear," he says. Add in early-spring azalea blooms that wash the gardens in pinks, purples, and whites, and it's easy to see why this place has captivated generations."

Rainbow Springs produces sapphire-blue, crystal-clear water fed by the Florida aquifer, releasing more than 400 million gallons daily at a constant 72°F. The site has drawn humans for thousands of years, from the Timucua to modern visitors. Early 20th-century ornamental gardens, constructed waterfalls, and glass-bottom-boat attractions remain as landscape remnants after the property became a state park. The 1,470-acre park supports kayaking, snorkeling, tubing, and abundant aquatic life. Hundreds of thousands of micro-springs across the river maintain clarity. Moss-draped hammocks, winding trails, and early-spring azalea blooms enhance scenic and recreational appeal.

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