The Florida I have inside me….
A literary remembrance of Bill Belleville, whose storytelling celebrates the mystery and glory of our state’s waterways, and beckons us to go outside. By Cynthia Barnett This winter on a sunny weekday, I jostled my kayak into the warm waters of the Wekiva River in honor of Bill Belleville, one of the great chroniclers of what he called vernacular Florida—“the luxuriant particulars of nature, of culture, and of place.” Belleville,
Water as A Healing Source, In search of miracle cures
From ancient times, water has been imbued with almost magical curative powers. Taking the waters in Florida After the Civil War, visitors flocked to the state, drawn by a promise of the healing powers of the springs and the sea. By Rick Kilby Beer baron Charles D. Kaier had certainly prospered in America after he immigrated from Germany. He fought for his new country during the Civil War and, by
Water as Freedom: Fluid freedom
Whether it be an endless ocean, a meandering river, or a back country swamp, water evokes freedom for all who seek it. Finding freedom, so fluid and fleeting Florida’s waterways promise blissful release from rules and care — until one person’s liberty clashes with another’s property lines. By Thomas T. Ankersen Featured image above: Cave divers enter the labyrinth of Manatee Springs, one of the state’s first-magnitude springs, located on
Water as A Natural Bridge, Bonding Across the Straits of Florida
The lessons of a manatee’s journey How shared waterways bridge the divides between Florida and Cuba — for marine life and the scientists united to protect it. By Anmari Alvarez Aleman Featured image above: In April 1984, more than 20 years before this Florida manatee was spotted by Anmari Alvarez Aleman in the warm waters off of Cuba, she was photographed in Crystal River with her male calf. In 2007, she
Someplace so familiar
Traveling halfway around the world, this sponge diver found his home in Tarpon Springs — a vibrant seaside outpost of his native Greece. By Janet Scherberger It’s a breezy, clear-blue-sky early afternoon in Tarpon Springs and Anastasio “Taso” Karistinos is on his sponge boat, stringing up a gray tarp to protect against the sun. “I don’t need to get more tan,” he says with a broad grin, his white teeth
History unfolded as water set the course
History unfolded as water set the course Lessons abound in the stories of our state’s earliest inhabitants, as they coped with the rising seas. By Kenneth Sassaman 7032 B.C., Near Modern-Day Titusville, On Florida’s East Coast As the end of her mortal life approached, the matriarch of the clan contemplated the future of her people. The world they knew was changing. Water was on the rise, in some places faster
Water: The elemental link to Florida’s identity
By Florida Secretary of State Laurel Lee Surrounded by more than 1,300 miles of coastline containing a myriad of freshwater lakes and springs, and with more than 11,000 miles of rivers, water is perhaps Florida’s most defining element. We are fortunate to live in a state where almost anywhere you go, you can find a body of water within close proximity providing inspiration, adventure and a way of life for
Our Florida, Our Water Stories
Water is the essence of Florida’s identity. From crystal-blue springs to vast Everglades wetlands, our Florida stories are never far removed from water. We hope you enjoy our most recent FORUM magazine focused on water and encourage you to explore more Florida stories from the FORUM magazine collection at the University of St. Petersburg Digital Archive.
FORUM Magazine: Fall 2014 – FLORIDA’S Grand Canyon, Hidden World of our Precious Springs
FORUM Magazine: FLORIDA’S Grand Canyon, Hidden World of our Precious Springs. Vol. XXXVIII, No. 3, Fall 2014
FORUM Magazine: Spring 2011 – The Gulf How Its bounty, beauty and bluster have shaped Florida
FORUM Magazine: Spring 2011 – The Gulf How Its bounty, beauty and bluster have shaped Florida. Vol. XXXV, No. 1, Spring 2011.
