Florida River Map

Designed to assist educational study and reference work, the Florida River Map displays geographic boundaries and key locations in a clear manner, useful for analyzing regional connections and planning activities. You can download this Florida River Map for offline viewing using the Download Now button below.

Florida River Map HD Florida River Map PDF

About Florida River Map

This Florida river map shows the distribution of the major rivers, lakes, bays, and other water features in the state of Florida. These are the major rivers in Florida such as the St. Johns River, the Suwannee River, the Withlacoochee River, the Peace River, the Kissimmee River, the Caloosahatchee River, the Apalachicola River, and the Choctawhatchee River. These are the major lakes in Florida, Lake Okeechobee, Lake George, Lake Apopka, Lake Kissimmee, Lake Tohopekaliga, and Lake Harris. In addition to the lakes and rivers the Florida river map contains information on the distribution of the coastal features and the various islands in the state. Some of the information includes Biscayne Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Apalachee Bay, Sanibel Island, Merritt Island, the Ten Thousand Islands, and the Florida Keys. The city of Tallahassee is the capital of Florida and is shown on the map as well as the state boundaries with Georgia and Alabama. The Gulf of Mexico and the North Atlantic Ocean complete the boundaries of the Florida rivers map. It contains latitude and longitude lines, a compass, and distance scales in miles and kilometers.

Major Rivers of Florida

Alafia River
Apalachicola River
Aucilla River
Blackwater River
Caloosahatchee River
Econlockhatchee River
Escambia River
Hillsborough River
Indian River
Kissimmee River
Myakka River
Ochlockonee River
Peace River
Santa Fe River
St. Johns River
St. Marks River
Steinhatchee River
Suwannee River
Waccasassa River
Withlacoochee River

Major Lakes

Lake Okeechobee
Lake George
Lake Seminole
Lake Kissimmee
Lake Apopka
Lake Tohopekaliga
East Lake Tohopekaliga
Lake Harris
Lake Istokpoga
Crescent Lake
Orange Lake
Lake Griffin
Lake Eustis
Lake Dora
Lake Weohyakapka (Lake Walk-in-Water)
Lake Rosalie
Lake Pierce
Lake Arbuckle
Lake June in Winter
Lake Talquin

Florida Rivers and Lakes

Natural resources in Florida include rivers, lakes, springs, and wetlands, as well as the numerous coastal waterways. These resources are supported by low elevation, abundant rainfall, and a geology of limestone, as well as a long coastline. Resources include more than 50,000 miles of rivers and streams and over 7,800 lakes that support sources of drinking water, wildlife, agriculture, recreation, navigation, and economy.

There are many bodies of water throughout the state of Florida, in different regions. North Florida has many spring-fed rivers, including some that are blackwater. There are many natural lakes throughout Central Florida. The Kissimmee River, Lake Okeechobee, and the Everglades make up a large system in South Florida. These bodies of water give Florida a unique geography.

Major Rivers in Florida

St. Johns River

St. Johns River is the longest river in Florida. According to the Florida geographic statistics, the St. Johns River is 273 miles long. The river originates in marshy areas in east-central Florida. From there, it flows generally northward through the center of the state until it reaches the Atlantic Ocean in Jacksonville.

There are many lakes and wetlands, and the St. Johns River flows gently through the St. Johns River watershed which is home to agriculture, cities, fisheries, wetlands, and many forms of boating as well as wildlife. The Ocklawaha River is a major tributary to the St. Johns River.

Suwannee River

The Suwannee River is a river in northern Florida. It begins in the Okefenokee Swamp of Georgia and flows southwest to the Gulf of Mexico. It passes through the spring country of Florida's limestone floodplain.

Many fish and wildlife species call the Suwannee River and its surrounding floodplain home. This wild and scenic river is often associated with the Santa Fe River, located in North Florida.

Apalachicola River

The Apalachicola River is a very important river in the state of Florida, located in the Florida Panhandle. It originates at the border of Florida and Georgia, where the Chattahoochee River (from Georgia) and the Flint River (from Georgia) merge, and continues down to Apalachicola Bay on the Gulf of Mexico.

In addition to supporting extensive forests, the floodplain of the Apalachicola River supports a variety of other habitats including wetlands and sloughs. The river system extends into two states, therefore management of water to flow in the larger Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint basin has ecological and water resource implications for Florida.

Kissimmee and Caloosahatchee Rivers

The Kissimmee River is located in the center of South Florida’s complicated system of water. It originates in the northern Kissimmee Chain of Lakes and flows south to Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee is located in the heart of the Greater Everglades watershed.

The Caloosahatchee River, to the west of Lake Okeechobee, flows to the Gulf of Mexico near the city of Fort Myers. The River flows through the Okeechobee Waterway, a managed navigation route through Lake Okeechobee. This waterway is one of the routes through which travelers can travel between Florida’s Atlantic coast and the Gulf coast.

Other major rivers in Florida include the Peace River, the Withlacoochee River, the Hillsborough River, the Santa Fe River, the Choctawhatchee River, the Escambia River, the St. Marys River, the Indian River, and the Loxahatchee River.

Major Lakes in Florida

The State of Florida Geographic Data Office reports that Florida is home to approximately 7,700 lakes (greater than 10 acres) in the State. The largest concentration of these natural bodies of water is located in Central Florida.

Lake Okeechobee

Lake Okeechobee is a very important water body and a very valuable water resource. Lake Okeechobee is 730 square miles in size and averages only about 9 feet in depth. Lake Okeechobee is the second largest body of freshwater that is entirely contained within the contiguous United States.

The Lake Okeechobee water body is located at the center of the Greater Everglades watershed. The Greater Everglades watershed includes the Kissimmee River and the Everglades south of the Everglades until it reaches Florida Bay. There are many fish and wildlife species that reside in Lake Okeechobee as well as support for recreational and commercial fishing. There are also many uses of the lake such as a water source, for navigation and for the purpose of flood control in southern parts of the State of Florida

Central Florida Lakes

The region has many large lakes for the amount of land that they are on. Lake George in the St. Johns River Valley is a large natural lake. Many of the larger natural lakes are located in the Central Florida area. These include Lake George, Lake Kissimmee, Lake Apopka, Lake Tohopekaliga (Lake Toho), Lake Harris, Lake Istokpoga, Lake Seminole, Crescent Lake and Orange Lake.

Smaller natural lakes exist throughout the Orlando area. Some of these are remnants of older natural lakes that have been eroded down to a smaller size. These smaller lakes can be used for local drainage and as fish and wildlife habitats. They also provide areas for recreational activities and add beauty to the landscape.

How Florida’s Rivers and Lakes Were Formed

Florida’s water features and geography can best be described by first noting that the state’s surface is generally very flat and it is underlain by a layer of limestone. Water from rain runs through the limestone to form features and bodies of water including sinkholes, underground caves, springs and ground water. Some of the lakes are natural depressions.

Rivers in the state of Florida can be of several types, for example in North Florida the rivers carry large amounts of groundwater from springs creating clear water streams. In other parts of North and Central Florida the rivers drain swamps and forests and therefore contain naturally dark, tannin-stained water. According to Florida State Parks the rivers of Florida consist of clear spring runs, sediment-bearing rivers and dark waterways with water of organic tannin-stained color.

In South Florida the water flows slowly across the wide wetlands and not through typical river channels due to low relief.

Wildlife and Natural Ecosystems

Many species of wildlife call the rivers and lakes of Florida home. Some of these species include: American alligators, Florida manatees, river otters, turtles, wading birds, waterfowl, largemouth bass, sunfish, catfish and many more.

Food, breeding places and nests for many wildlife species can be found in the wetlands and floodplains of rivers. They hold excess water during periods of high water, and filter out many pollutants from running water. For example, the extensive marshes of Lake Okeechobee support large numbers of wading birds as well as supporting commercial and sport fisheries for many species of wildlife.

Many of the rivers in Florida are spring fed. The temperature of these rivers remains constant year round. The groundwater that flows through these rivers is very clear. These types of rivers support some very unique aquatic habitats.

Recreation and Economic Importance

Recreational use of freshwater resources such as rivers and lakes in Florida include fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, swimming, wildlife watching and camping. Many of Florida’s freshwater resources are spring fed, including the Ichetucknee and Rainbow rivers. These natural resources are very popular for activities such as paddling and tubing.

There are many economic and practical uses of the state’s freshwater systems, including agriculture, fisheries, tourism, waterway navigation, and management of floods and water supply. For example, Lake Okeechobee supports both recreational and commercial fisheries, and it is a source of water as well as a flood control system for South Florida.

Water Quality and Environmental Challenges

Stressors to Florida’s lakes and rivers include growing population and urbanization, agriculture, altered water drainage, nutrient pollution, invasive species and altered water flow. Excess amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus can create very toxic and even deadly algal blooms that can decrease water quality in very sensitive lakes and rivers.

Lake Okeechobee has high levels of nutrients from agricultural activities and urban runoff. The lake’s water levels have fluctuated between extreme high and low levels. A large portion of the lake is dominated by invasive plants. State, federal and regional agencies are working together to monitor and restore Florida’s water resources. The agencies are struggling to meet the competing demands of environmental protection, flood control, water for growth, agriculture and recreation.

FAQs about Florida Rivers and Lakes

What is the longest river in Florida?

The longest river in Florida is the St. Johns River. It is 273 miles long and runs generally north through eastern Florida before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Jacksonville.

What is the largest lake in Florida?

Lake Okeechobee is the largest body of fresh water in Florida. Lake Okeechobee is a large lake with a surface area of approximately 730 square miles. It is on average only about 9 feet deep. This lake is at the heart of the Greater Everglades watershed in southern Florida. Water from Lake Okeechobee is used for irrigation as well as for the drinking water supply of the people of South Florida.

How many lakes are there in Florida?

There are over 7,700 lakes in Florida. Although there are lakes in all parts of the state, the greatest concentration is found in Central Florida. The lakes are natural and were formed when the state’s geology of limestone was eroded by the state’s drainage system.

What are the major rivers in Florida?

Major Rivers of Florida. The following are the major rivers of the State of Florida. St. Johns River. Suwannee River. Apalachicola River. Kissimmee River. Caloosahatchee River. Peace River. Withlacoochee River. Santa Fe River. St. Marys River. Hillsborough River.

What are the major lakes in Florida?

Additional major lakes are Lake George, Lake Kissimmee, Lake Apopka, Lake Tohopekaliga (commonly referred to as Lake “Toe”), Lake Harris, Lake Istokpoga, Crescent Lake, and Orange Lake.

Why does the St. Johns River flow north?

This river flows in the north direction because the headwaters of the St. Johns River are a little higher than the headwaters where the river empties into the Atlantic Ocean, near Jacksonville. The reason that it flows in the north direction is because of the extreme gentle slope of the land. Therefore the river flows according to elevation and gravity and can flow in any direction including north.

Can you swim, fish, and boat in Florida’s rivers and lakes?

Yes, swimming, fishing, boating and many other activities are allowed on many of the rivers and lakes of Florida. There are activities allowed and safety conditions that must be adhered to before participating in any water activities. Research the location before you arrive to ensure a safe and fun experience.

What river flows into Lake Okeechobee?

The Kissimmee River is the major river flowing into the Lake from the north. The St. Johns River, in the east central part of the state, and the remaining rivers flow south to Florida Bay in the southern part of the state and are part of the Greater Everglades watershed. The Lake is at the geographic center of this massive watershed.

Orange County Map