St. Johns River
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Saint Johns River St. Johns River |
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 St. Johns River catchment area |
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| Data | ||
| Water code | US : 308105 | |
| location | Florida , United States | |
| River system | St. Johns River | |
| source | St. Johns Marsh, at Vero Beach , Indian River County 27 ° 57 ′ 18 " N , 80 ° 47 ′ 3" W. |
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| Source height | 9 m | |
| muzzle | near Jacksonville in the Atlantic Ocean Coordinates: 30 ° 24 ′ 5 " N , 81 ° 24 ′ 3" W 30 ° 24 ′ 5 " N , 81 ° 24 ′ 3" W |
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| Mouth height | 0 m | |
| Height difference | 9 m | |
| Bottom slope | 0.02 ‰ | |
| length | 499 km | |
| Catchment area | 22,895 km² | |
| Drain |
MQ MHQ |
424.75 m³ / s 4,247.53 m³ / s |
| Left tributaries | Mills Creek River, Econlockhatchee River , Wekiva River , Black Water Creek (Lake County), Alexander Springs, Salt Springs Run, Ocklawaha River , Cross Florida Barge Canal, Rice Creek / Simms Creek, Black Creek , Ortega River, Trout River | |
| Right tributaries | Murphy Creek / Dunn's Creek , Julington Creek, Pottsburg Creek, Intracoastal Waterway / Sisters Creek | |
| Flowing lakes | Blue Cypress Lake, Lake Hell 'n Blazes, Sawgrass Lake, Lake Washington, Lake Winder, Lake Poinsett, Lake Harney , Lake Jesup, Lake Monroe , Lake Beresford, Lake Woodruff , Lake George , Doctors Lake | |
| Big cities | Jacksonville | |
| Medium-sized cities | Sanford , Deltona , DeLand , Palatka | |
| Small towns | Green Cove Springs , Orange Park | |
 Banks of the St. Johns River near Blue Spring State Park |
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The St. Johns River (officially Saint Johns River ) is the longest river in Florida at 500 km . It is one of the few rivers in the United States that flows south to north. The St. Johns River flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Jacksonville . With a height difference of only 9 m from the source to the mouth, it is one of the shallowest rivers in the world, which makes it very susceptible to pollution.
To the south of Palatka , the pollution is mainly due to naturally introduced tannic acid from the surrounding vegetation. The acidity is so high that the water looks black. There is a restaurant in Astor that is appropriately named "Blackwater Inn".
In floods caused by heavy rainfall, larger fish deaths occur again and again due to the then even higher acid content. In the winter of 2004, to the chagrin of many anglers, almost all fish were killed.
Despite the pollution, the river is a refuge for various animals. These include north of Jacksonville also dolphins or in the spring time manatees , also alligators , bald eagles , ospreys , stingrays and various salt and fresh water fish.
The main tributaries are the Ocklawaha River and the Econlockhatchee River .
