Can you swim in a Blackwater River?

A favorite destination for canoeists and kayakers, Blackwater River offers opportunities for a variety of outdoor recreation. The river is one of the purest sand-bottom rivers in the nation, making this park a popular place for swimming, fishing, camping, and paddling.



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Winding through rural areas and conservation land, the river is considered one of the cleanest rivers in the nation. This wild and natural river draws attention from scientists studying the insect life on its unusual shifting sandy bottom.

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The park was also designated a Registered State Natural Feature in 1980 for its “exceptional value in illustrating the natural history of Florida.” White-tailed deer, bobcats and turkeys are common, while river otters and alligators are occasionally seen.

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Blackwater rivers are black due to the tannic acid leached from fallen leaves of trees such as oaks that inhabit the wide floodplains along the river's edge. As the water rises and falls, it draws nutrients from decaying plant and animal matter, known as detritus.

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The park's sandy bottom, white beaches and large sandbars are a sharp contrast to the dark tannic water that gives the river its name. Designated a Florida Paddling Trail, the river and the park are part of the statewide system of greenways and trails.

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–The Smith River is the wildest and cleanest river in the country outside of Alaska — indeed, it is one of the cleanest rivers in the world. — The Smith is the only major undammed river in California.

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The largest blackwater river in the world, the Rio Negro provides roughly 14% of the average annual discharge into the Amazon, second only to the Madeira. Its main tributary, the Rio Branco, is by contrast a whitewater river.

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The Black River on the south coast of Jamaica is known for its natural beauty and diverse ecosystem. If you're headed to Jamaica with friends or family, a tour of the Black River can be the perfect opportunity to get close to nature and even see real-life crocodiles.

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Lake Jesup, Florida Alligators can be very dangerous and Lake Jesup is the most alligator-infested lake in America. It's said there could be up to 13,000 gators in this lake or more.

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–The Smith River is the wildest and cleanest river in the country outside of Alaska — indeed, it is one of the cleanest rivers in the world. — The Smith is the only major undammed river in California.

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Tara River, Europe Also known as the Jewel of Europe, Tara flows through the Balkan nations of Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina. One of the cleanest rivers in the world, it is a UNESCO protected river under the World's Natural Heritage and the World's Biosphere Reserve.

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Rebecca Thiele. The White River from the Indianapolis Art Center's ArtsPark. Indiana has the most miles of rivers and streams deemed too polluted to swim in of any state. Indiana has the most polluted rivers and streams of any state.

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Although none of the rivers in the U.S. rank among the most polluted in the world, the Ohio River continues to top the list as the most polluted river in the U.S. based on toxic releases from the industrial sector. However, many other U.S. rivers are also experiencing similar environmental hazards from toxic materials.

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