Dive into the beauty of local springs with new Florida Museum gallery

Press release from Florida Museum of Natural History

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Florida Museum of Natural History’s newest gallery exhibit uses 14 breathtaking photos of local springs to inspire and inform visitors on these critical ecosystems.

Featuring images taken by nature photographer and professor Jason Gulley, “Natural Wonders: Florida’s Freshwater Springs” showcases a variety of freshwater springs from around the state. Images of iconic springs at state parks like Peacock, Fanning, and Ichetucknee highlight their biodiversity and beauty while also displaying the impact of pollution and overdevelopment on their health.

“Springs are iconic ecosystems in Florida. Jason’s photography will show visitors a unique perspective of their beauty and the threats that they face,” said Florida Museum exhibits coordinator Julie Waters. “We hope visitors will gain a new appreciation of these amazing natural wonders and be inspired to preserve and protect springs for future generations.”

Gulley has been exploring Florida’s springs through cave diving for over 25 years and has seen firsthand their deterioration from issues like excessive groundwater pumping and algae overgrowth. Despite these struggles, he still finds them to be highly accessible, world-class natural attractions.

“This collection of images introduces some of the key challenges facing springs but also showcases the beauty that remains. Ongoing aquatic restoration work in Crystal River shows that damage to a spring’s ecosystem is reversible and that they can heal if we help them,” Gulley said. “Ultimately, the decisions we make about development and groundwater use now will determine whether or not our children or our children’s children will have springs to enjoy.”

Gulley’s work has been widely published, including in National Geographic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Science magazine. A geology professor at the University of South Florida studying springs, his career has taken him on expeditions to underwater caves in Florida, the Caribbean, and Africa, as well as to glaciers in Alaska, the Arctic Circle, and the Everest region of Nepal. 

The photography in the exhibit was supported in part by a grant from the National Geographic Society and funding from the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida.

“Natural Wonders: Florida’s Freshwater Springs” will be on display through spring 2025. For more information, visit www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/exhibits/natural-wonders-florida-springs.