The healthy Alexander Springs offers diving, swimming and other recreational activities

Before the invention of beach towels, cars, or even paved roads, the prehistoric culture of Florida known as Timucuans lurked in the Alexander Springs area in the southern part of the Ocala National Forest. The Timucuans used the stream to survive.

A thousand years later, spring is still full of humans, but this time their needs are mostly recreational.

Position: Alexander Springs is located at 49525 County Road 445 in the Lake County portion of the Ocala National Forest.

Of: Alexander Spring is one of the 33 largest springs in Florida. The conduit flows into a large pool measuring 25 feet deep, 300 feet north to south and over 250 feet east to west. The bottom of the pool is covered with sand and exposed limestone near the vent. The spring gushes about 60 million liters of water a day.

Around the source there is a mixed forest of deciduous and palm trees. Alexander Springs Creek flows east for several miles before meeting the St. Johns River.

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Visitors: Alexander Springs offers recreational opportunities of all kinds. Although rentals are temporarily unavailable, visitors can pay a launch fee to paddle canoes and kayaks along Alexander Run to Alexander Springs Wilderness and back. It also has a gently sloping beach and sloping spring basin, making it a popular seaside resort in the Ocala National Forest.

Alexander Springs is the only place where scuba diving is allowed in the Ocala National Forest. The popular recreation area also offers camping, backpacking, and day hiking opportunities.

It is open from 8:00 to 20:00. Access costs $ 7 per day on weekdays and $ 10 on weekends, or $ 70 annual passes are available.

Problem: Alexander Springs currently has healthy flow levels and nitrate levels well below the state-set maximum.

Of the 30 springs designated Outstanding Florida Springs, Alexander is one of only six considered “uncompromised”.

Like all springs that allow visitors, however, Alexander Springs has been prone to damage from recreational activities, most notably erosion in the spring and movement of sand in the spring vent caused by swimmers.

Future: Ocala National Forest is planning a working group that will examine spring management and the impact of recreational activities. Alexander Springs currently has no capacity limits, although some argue that any springs that allow recreation should restrict visitors.

Contact reporter Danielle Johnson at djohnson@gannett.com.