G7_The Manatee – An Endangered Icon_ Grade level_02
“Brrrr!” Shouted one young man as he edged his way off the dock and into the water. His friends all laugh at his comment. They know this is not really cold water. It’s just cooler than water at 80 degrees or higher you may find in a Florida swimming pool. In fact, it is the year-round “warm” water that makes this such a special place.
All the friends slide into the water. They feel the rush of cool water into their wet suits. Even with the wet suits, the first few seconds in the water is uncomfortable. Fortunately, a wet suit fits tightly against the skin. This tight fit enables your body’s own heat to warm the thin layer of water trapped against your skin. Very soon, the temperature of the water is no longer a factor. The group quickly got started with their much-awaited task.
The group inserts the snorkels into their mouths. Together they start swimming toward the source of the cool clear water, the spring. A spring is simply a point at which water flows from an underground aquifer onto Earth’s surface.
The spring itself is around 30 feet deep. There is even a statue of a manatee down in the spring. The statue was placed there to commemorate this gentle giant that calls this area home. The Crystal River coastal waters are home to the largest population of manatees on the west coast of Florida.
