TOTAL MILES TRAVELED TODAY: 0 NM
All right, that’s it; I want to see a Manatee! We piled into our Bug and headed for the viewing center at Tampa Electric, a spot we heard was well equiped for spying on the manatees. The manatee seek refuge around the warm water outlet at the power house and, since the day was nippy and the waters COLD, we hit the jackpot. There may have been as many as 100 of the enormous creatures slowly bobbing in the bay and we delighted in their plodding antics.
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| THE WARM, CHURNING WATERS FROM THE POWER PLANT |
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| A MANATEE JUST COMING UP FOR AIR |
These large marine mammals, also known as Sea Cows, spend most of their time grazing in shallow (3 to 7’) waters. They can be found in slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals and coastal areas where sea grasses or fresh water vegetation grows. Their closest genetic relatives are the aardvark, the hyrax and the elephant. Talk about three unlikely relatives!
Image via Wikipedia  Image by Chadica via Flickr |
| HYREX |
 Image by photophonic via Flickr |
| AARDVARK |
We found some interesting facts about the Mangrove Forrest, one of Florida’s true natives. These protected plants provide a valuable habitat, help prevent erosion and filter out pollution. Mangroves can live in both freshwater and saltwater. The white and black mangroves excrete the excess salt through their leaves and the red mangrove is able to block the absorption of salt at their roots. Pretty cleaver!
Image by afagen via Flickr TYPES OF MANGROVES
Image via WikipediaI was also alerted to this interesting tidbit about Tampa’s Bayshore Boulevard. It boasts the world’s longest continuous sidewalk at 3.8 miles. The Bayshore Greenway starts in the north at Columbus State Park and continues down to Gandy Boulevard. Joggers, bikers, skaters and walkers enjoy this long expanse with its beautiful bay view.
 Image by j.s. clark via Flickr |
| THE "BAYSHORE GREENWAY" |
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