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Photo: Ramos Keith, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
One of the most important springs for wintering manatees in Florida. Part of Kings Bay, this group of springs is about one-acre in size and surrounded by trees. The spring is located on a 57 acre refuge in the middle of the City of Crystal River. Manatees can easily be viewed in the springs crystal clear water from a boardwalk which circles the spring. The spring consists of a narrow channel leading into an open area with three separate groups of spring vents--Pretty Sister Spring, Big Sister Spring, Little Sister Spring. There are also spring vents just outside the spring--Idiots Delight 1 & 2. The spring has a constant temperature of 73F (23c) which attracts manatees that use it as a thermal refuge from colder surrounding waters during the winter months. Each year from November 15 to March 31,In the winter, in-water sanctuary boundaries are in place limiting swimmer access to Little Sisters, Pretty Sister and Idiots Delight 1 & 2 in order to provide resting areas for manatees escaping colder temperatures of the Gulf of Mexico. In severe cold weather events, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service closes the rest of the spring complex to swimmers in order to provide maximum refuge capacity for manatees. The spring routinely shelters hundreds of manatees during these events, the record being 528 manatees on December 27, 2014. The Three Sisters Springs boardwalk is open year round. There is no swimming access to Three Sisters Springs from the refuge property. Vehicle access to the refuge property is strictly limited. Access is either by foot or by a Trolley bus operated by the City of Crystal River from a Visitor Center at 123 NW US Highway 19 in Crystal River.
Three Sisters Springs is located on the Crystal River, in Citrus County, Florida, United States. It is in a natural inlet on the east side of Kings Bay and within the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. It contains three spring areas with many sand boils and vents. No matter the "ambient conditions", these springs "maintain a stable temperature of approximately" 23 °C (73 °F). These springs are a winter refuge for manatees; manatee season is from November 15 through March 31. Paddle-craft are not permitted within the Three Sisters during this period.
© OpenStreetMap contributors
This City of Crystal River park features a sandy beach for swimming in Hunter Spring year round. It also includes a kayak/canoe/paddleboard launch area allowing access to Kings Bay. The park also features a boardwalk for viewing manatees and the lively in-water scene in this residential part of Crystal River.
One of the best places to see endangered West Indian manatees that migrate each winter along the "Manatee Coast" north of Tampa Bay. This 40-acre U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service sanctuary is a protected manatee habitat that includes the spring that forms the headwaters of the Crystal River.
A National Historic Landmark. Next to the Crystal River Preserve State Park.
Next to the Crystal River Archaeological State Park
Over 31,000 acres of musk grass, widgeon grass, oaks, cypress, and red cedars stretching between the Homosassa and the Chassahowitzka River. It was established in 1943 as a waterfowl sanctuary, and is also critical habitat for West Indian manatees. Other wildlife includes alligators, raccoons, river otter, deer, turkey, black bear, bobcat, green turtles, gopher tortoises, and Eastern indigo snakes. Birdwatchers may spot cormorants, great blue herons, green-backed herons, ospreys, white pelicans, laughing gulls, wood storks, peregrine falcon, ducks, coots, and songbirds. The Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge is only accessible by boat. Enforced restrictions apply prohibiting airboats, hunting, fires, and camping.