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{{short description|Region in Florida}}[[File:Nature Coast of Florida map.png|thumb|right|Map of Florida's Nature Coast]] |
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{{more footnotes|date=October 2014}} |
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{{More citations needed|date=July 2023}} |
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[[Image:Map of Florida highlighting Nature Coast.svg|right|thumb|300px|Map of Florida's Nature Coast←''Map hasn't been colored in to show the counties.'' 15 Mar 2015.]] |
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The '''Nature Coast''' is |
The '''Nature Coast''' is an informal, unofficial [[List of regions of the United States|region]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Florida]]. The broadest definition of the Nature Coast includes the eight counties which abut the [[Gulf of Mexico]] along the [[Big Bend Coast]] as defined by [[geologist]]s. From west to east the counties are [[Wakulla County, Florida|Wakulla]], [[Jefferson County, Florida|Jefferson]], [[Taylor County, Florida|Taylor]], [[Dixie County, Florida|Dixie]], [[Levy County, Florida|Levy]], [[Citrus County, Florida|Citrus]], [[Hernando County, Florida|Hernando]], and [[Pasco County, Florida|Pasco]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://floridanaturecoast.org/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111084804/http://www.naturecoastcoalition.com/|archive-date=November 11, 2019|title=Where would you like to go?|website=Florida Nature Coast|access-date=May 22, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.naturecoastcoalition.com/|title=Florida Nature's Coast|website=Nature Coast Coalition|access-date=May 22, 2018}}</ref> (Note that the Big Bend Coast differs from the [[Big Bend (Florida)|Big Bend]] region of Florida.) The name "Nature Coast" was originally devised as part of a marketing campaign to promote tourism in Levy, Citrus, Hernando, and parts of [[Marion County, Florida|Marion]] and Pasco counties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marketing the Nature Coast |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1992/01/16/marketing-the-nature-coast/ |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref> |
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Many businesses and organizations incorporate "Nature Coast" in their names, but most of them do not explicitly define the region, or define a smaller region. For instance, the [[Nature Coast State Trail]], which is officially designated as part of Florida’s Statewide System of Greenways and Trails is located in Dixie, [[Gilchrist County, Florida|Gilchrist]] and Levy counties.<ref name=nature>{{cite web|title=Nature Coast State Trail |url=http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/north/trails/nature_coast_trail.htm |publisher=State of Florida |access-date=May 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515231314/http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/north/trails/nature_coast_trail.htm |archive-date=May 15, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://floridanaturecoast.org/County/Levy/NatureCoastTrail/NatureCoastTrail.aspx|title=Nature Coast State Trail|website=Florida Nature Coast|access-date=May 22, 2018}}</ref> The Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve includes {{convert|800|sqmi}} of coastal water in Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve |url=https://floridadep.gov/NatureCoastAP |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=Florida Department of Environmental Protection}}</ref> The Nature Coaster website covers only Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco counties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.naturecoaster.com/nature-coast-area-map/|title=Nature Coast Area Map|website=NatureCoaster|access-date=May 22, 2018}}</ref> |
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The lower southern end (Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus County) are often considered part of the [[Tampa Bay Area]]. |
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The lower southern end (Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus County) are often considered part of the [[Tampa Bay Area]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JTTzIBlgPxgC&dq=is+citrus+county+considered+tampa+bay&pg=RA1-PA1 | title=Tampa Bay & Florida's West Coast Adventure Guide | isbn=978-1-58843-675-7 | last1=Walton | first1=Chelle Koster | date=2008 | publisher=Hunter Publishing }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://stateoftheregion.com/our-region/#:~:text=Our%20Region-,For%20the%20purpose%20of%20the%20Regional%20Competitiveness%20Report%2C%20the%20data,%2C%20Pinellas%2C%20Polk%20and%20Sarasota | title=Our Region }}</ref> |
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The Nature Coast covers eight different counties and part of one county (Dunnellon is a part of [[Marion County, Florida|Marion County]]). It encompasses {{convert|980000|acre|km2}}. |
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| ⚫ | Activities common in this area include hunting, fishing, boating, [[bird watching]] and nature hiking. [[Snorkeling]] spots are found in the rivers along the Nature Coast. Diving and [[manatee]] tours are available, predominantly in areas such as [[Crystal River, Florida|Crystal River]], [[Homosassa]] and [[Homosassa Springs, Florida|Homosassa Springs]]. The Nature Coast is home to wildlife including deer, [[feral pig|wild pig]]s, [[roseate spoonbill]]s, [[alligator]]s, [[raccoon]]s, [[opossum]]s, snakes, [[great blue heron]]s, [[egret]]s, turtles and at least 19 endangered species. |
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The name "Nature Coast" was devised in 1991 as part of a marketing campaign to attract vacationers to the nine county area. The name eventually began to be used locally, and describes the area formally known as the "Big Bend" of Florida.<ref> |
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[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cPoNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=snsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5428,3535265&dq=nature-coast St. Petersburg Times article, St. Petersburg Times - Feb 23, 1994] {{dead link|date=October 2014}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | Activities common in this area include hunting, fishing, boating, [[bird watching]] and nature hiking. [[Snorkeling]] spots are found in the rivers along the Nature Coast. Diving and [[manatee]] tours are available, predominantly in areas such as [[Crystal River, Florida|Crystal River]], [[Homosassa]] and [[Homosassa Springs, Florida|Homosassa Springs]]. |
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==Attractions== |
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The Naturecoast is home to wildlife including deer, [[wild pig]]s, [[roseate spoonbill]]s, [[alligator]]s, [[raccoon]]s, [[opossum]]s, snakes, [[great blue heron]]s, [[egret]]s, turtles and at least 19 endangered species. |
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==See also== |
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===Citrus=== |
===Citrus=== |
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* [[Florida Suncoast]] - to the south |
* [[Florida Suncoast]] - to the south |
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* [[Forgotten Coast]] - to the north and west |
* [[Forgotten Coast]] - to the north and west |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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{{Florida}} |
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{{Geography of Florida}} |
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[[Category:Regions of Florida]] |
[[Category:Regions of Florida]] |
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[[Category:Central Florida]] |
[[Category:Central Florida]] |
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[[Category:North Florida]] |
[[Category:North Florida]] |
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[[Category:Coasts of Florida]] |
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Latest revision as of 07:56, 12 December 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2023) |
The Nature Coast is an informal, unofficial region of the U.S. state of Florida. The broadest definition of the Nature Coast includes the eight counties which abut the Gulf of Mexico along the Big Bend Coast as defined by geologists. From west to east the counties are Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco.[1][2] (Note that the Big Bend Coast differs from the Big Bend region of Florida.) The name "Nature Coast" was originally devised as part of a marketing campaign to promote tourism in Levy, Citrus, Hernando, and parts of Marion and Pasco counties.[3]
Many businesses and organizations incorporate "Nature Coast" in their names, but most of them do not explicitly define the region, or define a smaller region. For instance, the Nature Coast State Trail, which is officially designated as part of Florida’s Statewide System of Greenways and Trails is located in Dixie, Gilchrist and Levy counties.[4][5] The Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve includes 800 square miles (2,100 km2) of coastal water in Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties.[6] The Nature Coaster website covers only Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco counties.[7]
The lower southern end (Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus County) are often considered part of the Tampa Bay Area.[8][9]
Activities common in this area include hunting, fishing, boating, bird watching and nature hiking. Snorkeling spots are found in the rivers along the Nature Coast. Diving and manatee tours are available, predominantly in areas such as Crystal River, Homosassa and Homosassa Springs. The Nature Coast is home to wildlife including deer, wild pigs, roseate spoonbills, alligators, raccoons, opossums, snakes, great blue herons, egrets, turtles and at least 19 endangered species.
There are 50 golf courses in the area.
Attractions
[edit]Citrus
[edit]- Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, partly in Hernando County
- Crystal River Archaeological State Park
- Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
- Crystal River Preserve State Park
- Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
- Lake Rousseau
- Withlacoochee State Trail
- Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins State Historic Site
Hernando
[edit]Jefferson
[edit]Levy
[edit]- Cedar Key Museum State Park
- Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve
- Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge
- Fanning Springs State Park
- Manatee Springs State Park
- Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park
- Goethe State Forest
Marion
[edit]Pasco
[edit]- Pioneer Florida Museum and Village
- Starkey Wilderness Preserve
- Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park
- Conner Preserve
Taylor
[edit]Wakulla
[edit]- Bradwell Bay Wilderness
- Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
- Ochlockonee River State Park
- San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park
- St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
- Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad Trail State Park
See also
[edit]
- Florida Suncoast - to the south
- Forgotten Coast - to the north and west
References
[edit]- ^ "Where would you like to go?". Florida Nature Coast. Archived from the original on November 11, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ^ "Florida Nature's Coast". Nature Coast Coalition. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ^ "Marketing the Nature Coast". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
- ^ "Nature Coast State Trail". State of Florida. Archived from the original on May 15, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
- ^ "Nature Coast State Trail". Florida Nature Coast. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ^ "Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve". Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
- ^ "Nature Coast Area Map". NatureCoaster. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
- ^ Walton, Chelle Koster (2008). Tampa Bay & Florida's West Coast Adventure Guide. Hunter Publishing. ISBN 978-1-58843-675-7.
- ^ "Our Region".
External links
[edit]- Nature Coast Coalition List of attractions and events
- Florida's Nature Coast Conservancy
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