Banana Tree Spring

I guided a small group to this hidden spring just north of Orlando, Florida. Buried deep in the subtropical jungle of central Florida, is a family of small springs, boils, and seeps. This creek trickles from the side of a ravine and boils from the sandy ground at the same time... which is rare for this area. It continues along a pink-stained bed to a small pond and then dispenses into a swamp. We hiked for two hours through mosquito infested swamp and forest, following a topographical map, to locate this. We weren't sure if there was a spring there, but all the conditions were ripe for water. The banana trees are very mature, but bore no fruit. Signs of human occupation were present by the debris and waste we witnessed. A tire is embedded in the side of one ravine. A small sun-faded plastic cup was half buried in the sand. It didn't look like anyone had been there in years. Very little foot traffic was seen as we blazed our own path to the area. Wildlife was abundant even though vehicles could be heard in the distance. (This video has no audio.)