Myakka River State Park
Myakka River State Park | |
---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
Location | Manatee and Sarasota counties, Florida, USA |
Nearest city | Sarasota, Florida |
Coordinates | 27°14′22″N 82°19′00″W / 27.23944°N 82.31667°W |
Area | 37,000 acres (150 km2) |
Established | February 18, 1941[1] |
Governing body | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
Myakka River State Park is a
Environment
Myakka River State Park is in the
Wetlands in the park include marshes and forested wetlands.
A karst sinkhole named Deep Hole is located on the northwest bank of the Myakka River in the Wilderness Preserve. The sink is 135 feet (41 m) deep though no evidence of a spring was found by a 2011–2012 research team.[3]
Rivers in the park support hammocks and floodplain forests. Near the floodplains of spring-fed rivers grow southern coastal plain hydric hammocks, dense forests of evergreen and deciduous hardwood trees. Blackwater rivers support southern coastal plain blackwater river floodplain forests of baldcypress along their banks.[2]
Climate
Climate data for Myakka River State Park, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1956–present | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 89 (32) |
91 (33) |
95 (35) |
98 (37) |
104 (40) |
105 (41) |
101 (38) |
104 (40) |
103 (39) |
98 (37) |
96 (36) |
90 (32) |
105 (41) |
Mean maximum °F (°C) | 84.5 (29.2) |
85.7 (29.8) |
88.7 (31.5) |
91.8 (33.2) |
95.3 (35.2) |
97.1 (36.2) |
96.6 (35.9) |
97.0 (36.1) |
95.3 (35.2) |
95.9 (35.5) |
88.9 (31.6) |
85.4 (29.7) |
98.4 (36.9) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 74.5 (23.6) |
77.6 (25.3) |
80.7 (27.1) |
85.2 (29.6) |
89.8 (32.1) |
91.7 (33.2) |
92.3 (33.5) |
92.5 (33.6) |
90.7 (32.6) |
86.5 (30.3) |
80.8 (27.1) |
76.6 (24.8) |
84.9 (29.4) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 62.2 (16.8) |
65.0 (18.3) |
67.9 (19.9) |
72.5 (22.5) |
77.4 (25.2) |
81.2 (27.3) |
82.5 (28.1) |
83.1 (28.4) |
81.4 (27.4) |
76.3 (24.6) |
69.1 (20.6) |
64.8 (18.2) |
73.6 (23.1) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 50.0 (10.0) |
52.4 (11.3) |
55.2 (12.9) |
59.8 (15.4) |
64.9 (18.3) |
70.7 (21.5) |
72.8 (22.7) |
73.6 (23.1) |
72.2 (22.3) |
66.1 (18.9) |
57.4 (14.1) |
53.0 (11.7) |
62.3 (16.8) |
Mean minimum °F (°C) | 31.2 (−0.4) |
34.3 (1.3) |
38.6 (3.7) |
45.6 (7.6) |
54.9 (12.7) |
64.8 (18.2) |
68.7 (20.4) |
69.7 (20.9) |
66.2 (19.0) |
52.3 (11.3) |
41.9 (5.5) |
35.6 (2.0) |
29.4 (−1.4) |
Record low °F (°C) | 18 (−8) |
22 (−6) |
28 (−2) |
34 (1) |
43 (6) |
50 (10) |
59 (15) |
60 (16) |
58 (14) |
37 (3) |
24 (−4) |
18 (−8) |
18 (−8) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.85 (72) |
2.44 (62) |
3.00 (76) |
2.98 (76) |
3.75 (95) |
9.95 (253) |
9.81 (249) |
10.12 (257) |
8.45 (215) |
3.19 (81) |
2.02 (51) |
2.51 (64) |
61.07 (1,551) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.2 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 5.2 | 7.3 | 15.4 | 18.7 | 18.6 | 15.5 | 8.2 | 5.3 | 7.0 | 119.8 |
Source: NOAA[4][5] |
Things to do
The park is noted for its wildlife and some of the rare birds seen only in Florida, such as the roseate spoonbill, frequent the park. Native flora flourishes in the park. There are many species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals to learn about and enjoy watching as well.
Myakka River State Park has an excellent system of hiking trails. Walking trails crisscross the eastern side of the park.
Six primitive campgrounds are accessible by trail throughout the park: Mossy Hammock, Bee Island, Panther Point, Honore, Oak Grove and Prairie.
Horseback riding and biking is permitted on certain designated trails and roads in the park. This part of the park is dominated by expanses of very low vegetation, fields of palmetto, that make a transition to islands, or hammocks, of tall pine and oak trees.
A good portion of the park is accessible by automobile. Myakka River State Park's main road, a 6.5-mile (10.5 km) drive between the north and south ends, leads visitors to a boardwalk out to the river and a lake that is excellent for bird watching.
The main drive is also popular with cyclists, runners, and skaters. Bicycle traffic can be heavy, especially on weekends and holidays.
A short walk from the main road reveals Myakka's canopy walkway, a novel suspension bridge and tower providing researchers and visitors with views of the forest canopy and a spectacular above-the-treetops view of the entire park.
Picnic areas, canoeing, boat tours, and developed campsites are available. The park even has five cabins that were built not with logs, but with the trunks of native sabal palms.
References
- ^ Smith, Mark D. "Myakka River State Park". Sarasota History Alive. Sarasota County History Center. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Land Cover Viewer - Map". National Gap Analysis Program. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved February 15, 2013.
- ^ Culter, JK; Bowen, C; Ryan, J; Perry, J; Janneman, R; Lin, W (2013). "Exploration of Deep hole, Myakka river state park, Florida". In: Lang, M.A., and M.D.J. Sayer, editors. 2013. Proceedings of the 2013 AAUS/ESDP Curaçao Joint International Scientific Diving Symposium, October 24–27, 2013, Curaçao. Dauphin Island, AL. American Academy of Underwater Sciences. Archived from the original on July 9, 2014. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
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: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
- ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
Gallery
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The Boat Basin with airboats Gator Gal and Myakka Maiden
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Alligators abound
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Kayaking on the Myakka River
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Myakka River Sunset
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View walking on the Canopy Walkway
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Trails flooded after heavy rains