Firewater
The slow-moving waters of Devil’s Ear
Spring in northern Florida are ablaze
with colour. The vibrant swirls are
created when fresh water rising from
the spring mixes with the tannin-
stained waters of the Sante Fe River.
The tannins are released into
the river from decaying vegetation
further upstream and stain the water
a reddish brown colour. As a result,
rivers such as the Santa Fe are
classed as blackwater rivers.
Tannins are found in many
species of plant, and the bitter
taste they impart is thought to deter
insects from feeding on the foliage.PHOTO: JOHN MORANSCIENCE