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Tubing the Ichetuckee

The Ichetucknee River is a spring fed, pristine river in north central Florida. Many people visit the river and springs. Activities include swimming, tubing, and diving. A section of the river lies within the boundaries of a Florida state park.

The name is derived from a Native American language, possibly Creek wa (water), echas (beaver), and toka or tomeka (because of, or caused by), meaning "beaver pond" (beaver remains are common in the riverbed). A Hitchiti informant to anthropologist John R. Swanton pronounced the name "Oetcotukni", and translated it as "where there is a pond of water", likely referring to a defunct beaver pond.^[1]

The water in the river is crystal-clear and is always 72 °F, making for a very cold, beautiful swim, tube, or raft trip. There are different launch and end points, resulting in a tube or raft excursion anywhere from 1-3 hours. A variety of commercial vendors, located outside the entrance to the park, rent tubes and rafts for a modest fee.

Otters, turtles, ibis, wood storks, egrets, herons, cormorants, anhingas, king fishers and fish inhabit the river. No cranes.

For many years uncontrolled access to the river resulted in a rise in pollution, trash, and debris. In 1970 the springs and river became Ichetucknee Springs State Park. The park limits the number of daily visitors, which has helped return the area to a natural, pristine beauty.

It is a tributary of the Santa Fe River, which in turn flows into the Suwanee River.

1. ^ Simpson, J. Clarence (1956). in Mark F. Boyd: Florida Place-Names of Indian Derivation. Tallahassee, Florida: Florida Geological Survey. 

• Ichetucknee.org help save the ichetucknee river
• Ichetucknee Springs State Park. Florida Online Park Guide
• Ichetucknee Springs Camp, Florida. Hikercentral.com
• ICHNETUCKNEE SPRINGS STATE PARK. Florida State Parks.

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