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| Ponce de León Springs State Park | |
|---|---|
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape) | |
 The springs | |
   | |
| Location | Holmes County, Florida, USA |
| Nearest city | DeFuniak Springs, Florida |
| Coordinates | 30°42′29″N 85°55′37″W / 30.70806°N 85.92694°W |
| Governing body | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
Ponce de Leon Springs State Recreation Area is a Florida State Park in Holmes County, Florida, USA. It is located in the town of Ponce de Leon. The park, which was created to provide public outdoor recreation and other park-related uses, was initially acquired on September 4, 1970, using funds from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund.[1] Its self-proclaimed purpose is to develop, operate and maintain the property for outdoor recreation, park, historic, and related purposes, offering abundant opportunity for nature appreciation and wildlife viewing.[1] Its primary recreational activities include swimming in the spring and hiking along the park's nature trails.
The park's significance lies in the Ponce de Leon Spring, its most distinctive feature, which is fed by the powerful Floridan Aquifer. The spring was named in honor of Juan Ponce de León, an explorer who, in 1513, led the first Spanish expedition to Florida.[2] Legend has it that the objective of Ponce de Leon's expedition was to search for a spring that, according to a Taino Indian legend, would restore youth to those who bathed in their waters.” The legend contributes to the Ponce de Leon Springs’ unofficial title, “The Fountain of Youth”.[2]
Although named after the Spanish explorer, the springs were previously inhabited by a group of Native Americans with a rich history of activity within the area.[2][3]
The park has a unique ecology, flora, fauna, and is covered by specific conservancy and protective efforts.[1][4][5][6][7] It is also linked to the Civil War,
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