Tampa's Manatees Seek Warmth in Unlikely Canal
Feb 8, 2012; 12:40 PM ET
Manatees remain a symbol of Florida, despite declining numbers due to climate conditions and boat-related incidents. However, the protected manatees have found a safe place to congregate at one of the most unlikely of places: the Tampa Electric Company in Tampa, Fla.
The manatees first gravitated toward the electric company in 1986 when the Tampa Bay would drop below 68 degrees Fahrenheit or colder. The manatees discovered a hidden oasis located between the Tampa Electric Company and the then newly-constructed Big Bend Unit 4.
Picture from Barb Connolly.
Because the power station uses saltwater from Tampa Bay to cool Big Bend Unit 4 then releases the clean, warm water back into the bay, the water in that area became an ideal temperature for the warm-blooded mammals.
The location, a warm water discharge canal, has at times accommodated over 300 manatees. Because of this, Tampa Electric created a free Manatee Viewing Center that is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 1 through April 15.
The facility also includes an environmental education facility where guests can experience butterfly gardens, a 900-foot tidal walk and a hurricane simulator.
Picture from Barb Connolly.
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