Гиллсбороу өзені: Флориданың табиғаты мен тарихы

River in the United States of America

The Hillsborough River is a river located in the state of Florida in the United States. It arises in the Green Swamp near the juncture of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties, and flows 60 mile (97 km) through Pasco and Hillsborough Counties to an outlet in the city of Tampa on Hillsborough Bay. It includes 4 nature trails extending for over 7 mile (11 km), making it popular among hikers. The name Hillsborough River first appeared on a British map in 1769. At the time, the Earl of Hillsborough was the British Secretary of State for the Colonies, and thus controlled the pensions of the surveyors working in the American colonies, which included East Florida.

Geological data estimates that the Hillsborough River has been flowing for about 27,000 years. It is estimated humans first made their way to this area 12,000 15,000 years ago. In the late 18th century the watershed of the Hillsborough River was a land covered by a rich, old growth forest. Bald cypress, longleaf pine, and sand live oak were hundreds of years old (and in the case of cypress, thousands of years old). In the mid to late 19th century to about 1913 the watershed of this old growth forest began to be logged. As a result of this lumbering activity, most of the trees within the Hillsborough River basin are now less than 100 years in age. The harvesting of the old growth trees altered the ecosystems they dominated. Trees such as water ash and water locust were able to quickly grow in the sun lit spaces created when bigger trees were removed. The riverine swamp forest as it exists today has a much different ecology than the ecosystem that had existed along the Hillsborough for the previous ten to 15,000 years. When Europeans first reached Florida, the area around Tampa Bay and all of the watershed of the Hillsborough River was occupied by people of the Safety Harbor culture. Two chiefdoms of the Safety Harbor culture, Mocoso and Pohoy, were adjacent to where the Hillsborough River entered Tampa Bay. Hernando de Soto landed on the south side of Tampa Bay in 1539 and passed through Mocoso on his way north. By the early 18th century the people of the Safety Harbor culture, through disease and slavery, are nearly exterminated.

The Hillsborough River is home to many species, and several large bird rookeries exist. When local students reach sixth grade in Hillsborough County, they take a visit to the river for one to three days to learn about the ecosystem, watershed, and native Florida animals at a place called 'Nature's Classroom'. The Hillsborough River dam (originally built in 1895 and since rebuilt) at Rowlett Park creates a lake covering and containing of water, providing for the supply of water for the City of Tampa. The Hillsborough River was immortalized in 1973 by author Gloria Jahoda in her book River of the Golden Ibis. With the construction of the dam in 1945, the portion of the River above the dam to approximately Fletcher Avenue is where the City of Tampa is permitted to withdraw water to supply to its citizens and those in Hillsborough County. In addition, Tampa Bay Water is permitted to withdraw water from the River during "high flow" times and under specific conditions. The Southwest Florida Water Management District, the agency required by Florida law to protect and manage the waters in the state, authorizes the permits. With the establishment of the minimum flow of the upper and middle river by the Southwest Florida Water Management District in 2007 and its supporting Recovery Strategy, the City of Tampa and the District in partnership are implementing measures and projects to achieve the required flow in the lower river, while preserving the pristine nature of the middle and upper rivers. The river above the dam to roughly the 56th Street bridge passes through the neighborhood of Temple Crest. The river above the 56th Street bridge passes through the City of Temple Terrace and it is one of the many scenic portions of the river. The City has a river cleanup of its river portion twice a year.

Hillsborough River State Park includes along the Hillsborough River in northeastern Hillsborough County. It supports many Floridian environments such as swamps and oak hammocks and many endangered species. The park's purpose is to preserve the "real Florida". Visitors to the park can participate in picnicking, camping, canoeing, hiking, fishing and swimming in a constructed pool. There is also a designated place to observe the river's class II rapids. It is one of the only rivers in Florida with rapids. The park opened in 1935 making it one of Florida's oldest state parks.

The middle river is the portion of the river north of the dam at 30th Street and is the primary source of water for the City of Tampa. The middle river is located in the middle portion of the river extending from its dam with the water contained back to Fletcher Avenue. The Hillsborough River has its headwaters begins in the Green Swamp and ultimately flows into Tampa Bay. Water was supplied in Tampa's early days by private wells, cisterns and tanks. Tampa's first water plant went into operation on April 20, 1899, operated by the private Tampa Waterworks Company. It pumped well water to supply the City of Tampa until March 6, 1923, when the people voted to purchase the Waterworks plant for the city. The middle river has been Tampa's official source of water since 1944. But the middle river is far more than just the source for some of Tampa's drinking water, it is a wonderfully diverse river ecosystem within the larger urban area surrounding it. Orange Lake, in the Temple Crest neighborhood, is an Audubon Society bird nesting and sanctuary, is also a living wetlands. Upstream along the banks of Temple Terrace's Riverhills Park is a scene from old Florida, with cypress trees dotting the watery landscape.

A 34.5 mile (56 km) canoe trail is designated by the State of Florida, starting at Hillsborough River State Park and ending at Rowlett Park in Tampa. Morris Bridge Park, Trout Creek Wilderness Park, Hillsborough River State Park Lettuce Lake Park, Riverfront Park, Riverhills Park, Angel of Hope Park, Rogers Park, Sulphur Springs Water Tower, and Rivercrest Park are all located along the Hillsborough River.

Crossing Carries Image Location CoordinatesHeadwaters140024 US 98Branchborough140009CSX Rail Bridge Vitis SubdivisionCSX Rail Bridge Yeoman Subdivision140007 SR 39Buchman HighwayCorvilla144002Crystal Springs RoadCrystal SpringsConfluence with Blackwater CreekThonotosassaOld Fort BridgeFootbridgeFort FosterFormer ACL Railroad BridgeTampa and Thonotosassa Railroad100434 US 301Confluence with New RiverHillsborough RiverState ParkConfluence with Flint CreekMorris Bridge100026 CR 579Morris Bridge RoadPine Ridge EstatesWater control structureHillsborough River SP Main TrailTemple Terrace100387/100388 Interstate 75100276 CR 582AFletcher Avenue100084/100402 SR 582Fowler Avenue104143/104144 SR 580Temple Terrace Highway/Bullard ParkwayTampa Bypass Canal56th Street Bridge100267/100268 SR 583N 56th Street40th Street Bridge104504 CR 585AN 40th StreetDel RioHillsborough River DamTampaRowlett Park Drive Bridge100086Rowlett Park DriveCSX Rail Bridge Clearwater SubdivisionFormer Van Dyke Street BridgeVan Dyke Street (now North and South Van Dyke Place)Nebraska Avenue Bridge100001 US 41Nebraska Avenue100217/100218 Interstate 275James N. Holmes Bridge100069 Business US 41 Florida AvenueSumter L. Lowry Bridge105602Sligh AvenueHillsborough River Bridge(drawbridges) 100618/100920 US 92Hillsborough AvenuePaul H. Smith Bridge100500 SR 574Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. BoulevardColumbus Drive Swing Span105504Columbus DriveEugene Holtsinger Bridge105600North Boulevard100135/100136 Interstate 275Fortune Street Bridge (drawbridge)105503Laurel StreetCass Street Drawbridge105502Cass StreetCSX Rail Bridge Port Tampa SpurKennedy Drawbridge100100 SR 60Kennedy BoulevardBrorein Street Drawbridge105501Brorein StreetCrosstown Viaduct100332/100333 SR 618Lee Roy Selmon ExpresswayPlatt Street Drawbridge105550Platt StreetConfluence with Seddon Channel and Garrison ChannelPlant Street Bridge105606Davis BoulevardPlant AvenueHyde Park Avenue Bridge105625Davis BoulevardHyde Park AvenueMouth