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

Myrtle's Fissure Spring

Columbia County

Summary of Features

  • Scale - 2nd magnitude
  • Scenery - excellent
  • How Pristine?  - very pristine
  • Swimming - poor
  • Protection  - unknown/private
  • Crowds - can be crowded on warm weekends
  • Access - adjacent land is private/boat only
  • Facilities - none
  • Safety - very good
  • Scuba - yes
  • 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 about 1/3 mile upriver from the boat ramp on the north side.

Spring Description

Visible from the river, Myrtle's Fissure is about 120 feet from the Santa Fe and creates a shallow run that flows across rough and somewhat jagged limestone.  Boulders lie in the run and along its edges. The spring is a long (about 75 feet) fissure that is only about 4 feet wide at its widest point and tapered at the ends.  The fissure is against the bank, parallel to the river, and is widest and deepest near the downstream end.  According to DeLoach (1997, p. 93) the fissure is at least 60 feet deep.  Water flowing from the fissure is clear, but appears dark in the crack itself.  Land around the spring is dense floodplain forest.  When visited in June 2002, the water was clearer and a limestone wall was visible descending from the surface more than 20feet.

Use/Access

Local Springiana

The spring is also known as the Black Crack.

Personal Impressions

With its powerful and sometimes noisy run, dark waters, and edges extending beyond your line of vision, Myrtle's Fissure is visually striking. Robert Frost's description of a snowbound forest also seem appropriate for this spring, which has waters that are "lovely, dark, and deep."

The authors were startled by a 3-4 foot orange snake on one visit in 2000.

Nearby Springs

Other Nearby Natural Features