The St. The drop in elevation from headwaters to mouth is less than 30 feet 9 m ; like most Florida waterways, the St. Johns has a very slow flow speed of 0. Numerous lakes are formed by the river or flow into it, but as a river its widest point is nearly 3 miles 5 km across. The narrowest point is in the headwaters, an unnavigable marsh in Indian River County.
Johns drainage basin of 8, square miles 22, km 2 includes some of Florida's major wetlands. Johns River Water Management District. Although Florida was the location of the first permanent European settlement in what would become the United States, much of Florida remained an undeveloped frontier into the 20th century.
With the growth of population, the St. Johns, like many Florida rivers, was altered to make way for agricultural and residential centers, suffering severe pollution and redirection that has diminished its ecosystem. Johns as Florida's population continues to increase. Historically, a variety of people have lived on or near the St.
Johns, including Paleo-indians , Archaic people , Timucua , Mocama , Mayaca , Ais , French, Spanish, and British colonists, Seminoles , slaves and freemen, Florida crackers , land developers, tourists and retirees. In the year , 3. Johns River. Johns is Florida's primary commercial and recreational waterway.
It flows north from its headwaters , originating in the direction of the Lake Wales Ridge , which is only slightly elevated at 30 feet 9. Because of this low elevation drop, the river has a long backwater. It ebbs and flows with tides that pass through the barrier islands and up the channel. The river is separated into three basins and two associated watersheds managed by the St. Because the river flows in a northerly direction, the upper basin is located in the headwaters at its southernmost point.
