Loxahatchee River

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Loxahatchee River
Jonathan Dickinson State Park 002.JPG
USA Florida relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Location
Country United States
Physical characteristics
Mouth  
  location
26°56′57.9″N80°6′25.8″W / 26.949417°N 80.107167°W / 26.949417; -80.107167 Coordinates: 26°56′57.9″N80°6′25.8″W / 26.949417°N 80.107167°W / 26.949417; -80.107167
Length12.2 km (7.6 mi)
TypeWild, Scenic, Recreational
DesignatedMay 17, 1985

The Loxahatchee River (Seminole for river of turtles) [1] is a 7.6 mile river [2] near the southeast coast of Florida. It is a National Wild and Scenic River, one of only two in the state, [1] and received its federal designation on May 17, 1985. The source of the Loxahatchee River is in Riverbend Park on the south side of Indiantown Road about 1.5 miles west of I-95 and Florida's Turnpike in Jupiter, Florida. The Loxahatchee River flows out of the Jupiter Inlet and into the Atlantic Ocean. This river was the inspiration for Florida film producer Elam Stoltzfus' 2005 project Our Signature: the Wild and Scenic Loxahatchee River, a film done in conjunction with the Loxahatchee River Preservation Initiative. [3]

Contents

Launching points for canoe and kayak trips on the river are accessible at Riverbend Park and at Jonathan Dickinson State Park [4] The 1930s pioneer homestead of Trapper Nelson lies along the river in a section that runs through Jonathan Dickinson State Park. [2]

See also

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The Battles of the Loxahatchee occurred west of what is now Jupiter, Florida in January 1838 between the United States military and the Seminole Indians. The First Battle of the Loxahatchee occurred on January 15, involving a mixed Navy-Army unit under Lt. Levin M. Powell. The Second Battle of the Loxahatchee occurred on January 24 involving an army under Major General Thomas Jesup. The two battles were fought within a few miles of each other against the same group of Seminoles.

Riverbend Park is a 680-acre (280 ha) park in the Jupiter Farms section of Jupiter, in Palm Beach County, Florida. The area includes the Riverbend Regional Park Historic District with Indian middens and a preserved battlefield from the Seminole War at the Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park adjacent to Riverbend. The park includes 10 miles of hiking/biking trails, 7 miles of equestrian trails and 5 miles of canoeing/kayaking trails and includes a section of the Loxahatchee River, a National Wild and Scenic River. A Florida cracker farmstead is displayed, as well as a Seminole-style chickee for picnics.

References

  1. 1 2 "Loxahatchee River Restoration Plan Moves Forward". Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
  2. 1 2 "Loxahatchee River, Florida". National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Archived from the original on 2010-04-22. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
  3. "Loxahatchee River". Archived from the original on 2015-02-17. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
  4. "Loxahatchee River Paddling Trail" (PDF). State of Florida.