Springs Fever: A Field & Recreation Guide to 500 Florida Springs.
3rd Edition by Joe Follman and Richard Buchanan

Little Awesome Siphon/Suck

Columbia County

Summary of Features

  • Scale--3rd or 4th magnitude in reverse, estimated
  • Scenery--excellent
  • How Pristine?--completely pristine
  • Swimming--no
  • Protection--unknown
  • Crowds--none
  • Access--good/canoe only
  • Facilities--none
  • Safety--fine
  • Scuba--no
  • Cost-free

Directions

From Ft. White, drive south on State Road 47 about five miles to the bridge over the Santa Fe River.  The spring is approximately 1 mile upriver from the boat ramp, on the northeast side.  The spring is about 0.5 miles upstream of Myrtle's Fissure.  Look and listen for a small siphon at the edge of the bank..

Siphon Description

The siphon is a small opening along the bank of the Santa Fe, less than a foot in diameter.  Water siphons in the hole from the Santa Fe River and down into the aquifer, looking and sounding like a drain in action.  The surface of the siphon and edge of the Santa Fe River were about 6 inches below the adjacent floodplain hardwood forest on date of visit in 2002.

Another, much large siphon (Big Awesome), is a few yards upstream onthe same bank.

Use/Access

Nearby Springs

Other Nearby Natural Features