Geological Formation and Natural Features
De Leon Springs is classified as a first-magnitude spring, discharging an average of 20 million gallons of water per day into the spring run, which flows into the St. Johns River. Its formation is part of the Floridan Aquifer system, a vast underground network of porous limestone that stores and channels groundwater. Over thousands of years, dissolution of limestone created the spring vent, producing a pool that maintains a year-round temperature of approximately 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spring Pool: The spring forms a circular pool about 40 feet in diameter, with crystal-clear water ideal for swimming and observing aquatic life.
- Spring Run: Flowing from the main pool, the spring run meanders through cypress swamps and hardwood hammocks before joining larger waterways, creating a corridor for fish, manatees, and other aquatic species.
- Surrounding Habitats: Mixed hardwood forests, pine flatwoods, and wetlands surround the spring, providing diverse habitats for birds, reptiles, mammals, and amphibians.
These geological and hydrological characteristics make De Leon Springs an ecologically significant site and a hub for human activity for centuries. shutdown123