"THE GENTLE GIANT" that's what they call the meek Manatee. Geni and I visited the Manatee State park and took in the Manatee Festival in Crystal River, Florida.
What a amazing creature the Manatee is, first time I have ever seen one before. They are very large mammals that must come up for air every few minute's just like a whale does. They weigh between 400-1200 pounds and eat 100lbs of sea grass and algae a day. When the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico start to cool in the winter they must seek warmer waters or they will die if the temperature drops below 69 degrees. When that happens they find the natural fresh water springs that lie along the the west coast of Florida. We have visited 4 or 5 of these springs and they are amazing also, they produce 40 to 100 million gallons of clearest fresh spring water every day that just comes from under the Earth's surface. You can also hire guides that will take you out and you can swim with these amazing creatures
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Manatee
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Manatee festival
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Three Sisters National Wildlife refuge
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| View from inside of tank |
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| Roscoe the Manatee |
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| Live music |
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| Manatee's in the springs |
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| Main street festival |
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| a local pub |
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