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The
St. Johns River
is one of the safest and easiest gateways from the Atlantic Ocean.
Between Mayport and Sanford, the river is an enjoyable cruise.
Overhead clearance
is set at 45 feet by three fixed
bridges.
Snags are seldom a problem in main channel,
but side streams and sloughs should be approached carefully. Be particular
observant from November through March, when
manatees are in residence.
Current south of Palatka can be influenced
by the
water level in the upper (southern) part of the river, as is flows
south to north.
The
St. Johns is the longest river in Florida - 310 miles
long. It is one of the few rivers in the United States that flows north.
The source of the river, or headwaters, is a large marshy area in Indian
River County that flows north and turns eastward at Jacksonville to its
mouth in the Atlantic Ocean.
The total drop of the river from its source in
swamps south of Melbourne to its mouth in the Atlantic near Jacksonville
is less than 30 feet, or about one inch per mile, making it one of the
"laziest" rivers in the world. Major tributaries, or smaller streams and
rivers that flow into the St. Johns River include the Wekiva River,
Econlockhatchee River and the Ocklawaha River.
Florida waters are often a natural brown-tea color caused by tannins
from decaying native vegetation. Since light is attenuated by both color
and turbidity,
Secchi depth in many Florida waters is often very shallow
(0.5–2.0 meters) compared to water bodies in other parts of the world.
In Florida, the measurement is valuable for observing changes occurring
within a water body over time.
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Distances in Statute Miles
|
|
ICW |
I-95 |
Ortega
River |
I-295 |
Palatka |
Buffalo
Bluff |
N
End Lake George |
Astor |
Blue
Spring |
I-4 |
Monroe
Harbour |
| ICW |
0.0 |
17.7 |
22.8 |
29.1 |
74.3 |
85.0 |
105.0 |
121.0 |
141.0 |
156.0 |
160.0 |
| I-95 |
17.7 |
0.0 |
2.7 |
9.2 |
54.4 |
65.1 |
84.8 |
101.0 |
121.0 |
137.0 |
141.0 |
| Ortega
River |
22.8 |
2.7 |
0.0 |
6.3 |
51.5 |
62.2 |
81.9 |
98.1 |
119.0 |
134.0 |
138.0 |
| I-295 |
29.1 |
9.2 |
6.3 |
0.0 |
45.2 |
55.7 |
75.6 |
91.8 |
112.0 |
127.0 |
131.0 |
| Palatka |
74.3 |
54.4 |
51.5 |
45.2 |
0.0 |
10.3 |
30.4 |
46.6 |
67.0 |
82.1 |
86.1 |
| Buffalo
Bluff |
85.0 |
65.1 |
62.2 |
55.7 |
10.3 |
0.0 |
19.7 |
35.8 |
56.4 |
71.4 |
75.4 |
| N
Lk George |
105.0 |
84.8 |
81.9 |
75.6 |
30.4 |
19.7 |
0.0 |
16.2 |
36.7 |
51.8 |
55.8 |
| Astor |
121.0 |
101.0 |
98.1 |
91.8 |
46.6 |
35.8 |
16.2 |
0.0 |
20.5 |
35.5 |
39.5 |
| Blue
Spring |
141.0 |
121.0 |
119.0 |
112.0 |
67.0 |
56.4 |
36.7 |
20.5 |
0.0 |
15.1 |
19.1 |
| I-4 |
156.0 |
137.0 |
134.0 |
127.0 |
82.1 |
71.4 |
51.8 |
35.5 |
15.1 |
0.0 |
4.0 |
| Monroe
Harbour |
160.0 |
141.0 |
138.0 |
131.0 |
86.1 |
75.4 |
55.8 |
39.5 |
19.1 |
4.0 |
0.0 |
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|
ICW |
I-95 |
Ortega
River |
I-295 |
Palatka |
Buffalo
Bluff |
N
End Lake George |
Astor |
Blue
Spring |
I-4 |
Monroe
Harbour |
Print This Chart
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