Peacock Springs - Orlando / Florida Guide
Florida Guide > State Parks
Peacock Springs State Park is situated in Lurville on 180th street 17 miles south of Live Oak on the SR51. This park covers 228 acres.
If you had tried to visit this area over 1000 years ago, well, you could not! In the 11th century the land was naturally raised from the ocean floor to sit on a limestone platform. It has been noted that in the last 50 years, its size has increased by around 30%.
This park is famed for the wonderful diving opportunites. However, if you are not diving, the park is still worth a visit to meander down the walking trails and to view the sinks and springs. The trails follow the paths of the underwater tunnels.
Peacock Springs boasts one of the longest underwater cave systems, it is possible to explore an incredible 28000 feet of passages.
There is a major spring run, 2 major springs, six sink holes and many smaller depressions and sinks.
The springs and sink holes are formed when the streams cause the roofs of the caverns to first dissolve and then collapse. The sediment is then taken away by surface streams.
There are 4 main plant communities here set within the forest that circle the wet areas. Upland forest, bottomland forest, xerotic forest and floodplain swamp are all revealed.
Among the trees you will see are American holly, dog wood, pig nut hickory, lolbolly pine and Florida maple. Cedar Elm is now an endangered species and there are good examples to be seen here.
All this provides a good habitat for wildlife and you should have your camera ready for racoon, otters, deer and beaver. Bird lovers will see blue heron and barred owls. If you are visiting in the spring then this is when the red shouldered hawk comes for a while.
In this park there are also gopher tortoises and indigo snakes and just out side the grounds you may well see a Sherman fox squirrel.
You must provide a valid certificate before you dive and there is only open diving at Orange Grove. During the summer you are invited to have a cooling swim in Orange Grove Sink and Peacock Springs. Remember to take your swimming costumes and beach towels as a cool down is most welcome in the height of the summer.
Admission is $3 for a car with up to 8 occupants. The diving fee is $10. You may not dive alone.
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Page added on: 28 December 2008
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