Florida Manatees
Manatee Viewing Center
The Manatee Viewing Center is located in Tampa Bay, the Canal of Tampa Electric’s Big Bend Power Station. The manatees have been gathering since the 1970s when the water temperature gets colder than 68 degrees, the manatees gather here by the hundreds. There is a 50-foot observation tower where guests can visit.
Manatees in Florida
Manatees can be found throughout the Rivers and Springs of Florida. They migrate from the rivers into the springs during the winter months (November through March) to stay warm. You can typically find them in all of the Rivers of Florida, it’s just harder to spot them unless they are in crystal-clear spring waters.
Live Manatee Cam at Blue Springs State Park
Below is a live cam located at Blue Spring State Park.
Crystal River Manatees
The Crystal River Springs such as Hunter Springs Park, Crack Springs, and Seven Sisters Springs are known for having many manatees that swim and live in these waters.
Swim with Manatees in Florida
If you visit the right springs at the right time of year, you can swim with manatees in Florida. It is a real treat if you get a chance to swim with a manatee. Most people will never get a chance to swim with these beautiful creatures. If you ever have a chance to do so, take it. Some popular springs you can swim with manatees are Blue Spring State Park,
Manatee Tours Crystal River
Crystal River has many freshwater springs loaded with manatees that you can swim with. If you find the right tour guide you can view these beautiful animals up close and even swim with them.
Manatee swimming in crystal clear water
Florida Springs with Manatees
If youre looking for Florida Springs with manatees in them, youre in luck. Below is a list of different springs with many manatees in them. Almost all Central Florida Rivers have manatees in them but you must visit the spring heads so you can see them good in the clear water.
Facts About Manatees
Here are a few of the most common questions and facts about the manatees.
What are Manatees?
Manatees are large, herbivorous, aquatic, and often called sea cows. They have big paddle-like tails that they use to thrust their selves in the water to move around. They can measure up to 13 feet long, and weigh as much as 1,500 pounds depending on which type of manatee and what part of the world it’s from.
Where do Manatees Live?
There are three accepted living species of manatees, the Amazonian manatee, the West Indian manatee, and the West African manatee. The Florida manatee is a subspecies of the West Indian manatee and can be found in the freshwater springs of Florida. The habitat of manatees are freshwater springs of Florida for warmer waters during winter months. Want to learn more about the manatees check out Wikipedia.
Are Manatees Endangered?
At one point they were endangered because of human activity. Motorized water vehicles would strike them with their propellers and people would hunt them down. They are slow and vulnerable. Today they are making a comeback in Florida and their numbers are starting to grow.
Manatee Swimming Florida
Another fact about manatees is that they only live in Florida Rivers. You can travel to other parts of the world to see them but if you live in the United States, the only place you can view them is the Florida Rivers.
If you want to see a manatee swimming Florida waters, book a flight and reserve a hotel room and spend a few days down here. If you visit the right time of year and the right springs you will have no problem seeing them swim in the florida springs.
Book a Flight and Reserve a Room
