The Florida Peninsula is a limestone plateau formed many millions of years ago when the area was a warm, shallow sea. Millions of years of deposits from small sea creatures make up the limestone, which is several thousand feet thick. The water in the springs is a constant 68 degrees year round and the caves reach deep beneath the earth. It is November, the beginning of a very short winter period, and the cypress trees have turned to a golden color as they shed their leaves. As you can see, the water is crystal clear and with the exception of the opening to the caves at center-right the spring's bottom is covered with a short-cropped vegetation.