Tampa Electric provides sanctuary for manatees

A self-guided nature trail tells visitors about the area

Natural Florida continues to be the highlight on my five free fun things to do in Tampa Bay during spring break.

No. 4: The TECO Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach.

This man-made sanctuary created by the warm water discharge canal of Tampa Electric’s Big Bend Power Station, the Manatee Viewing Center is open to the public annually from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., November 1 through April 15. The center is closed Thanksgiving, at 3 p.m. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Easter. Admission and parking are free. The facility has clean restrooms, a small snack bar, gift shop and museum that feature a lot of hands-on educational activities for kids of all ages.
 

Admission is free to the Manatee Viewing Center.

The Florida manatee, a subspecies of the West Indian manatee, is a large, plant-eating, warm-blooded marine mammal found in Florida's shallow coastal waters, rivers and springs.

Often called a “sea cow”, the average adult manatee is about 10 feet long and weighs approximately 1,000 pounds. It has a large, seal-like body. The manatee is large, but its body gets thinner near its large, spatula-shaped flat tail. The two front flippers of the manatee are paddle-shaped with up to four nails at the tip of each flipper.

The manatee has finely wrinkled gray or gray-brown skin. It has stiff, brush-like facial whiskers that help the manatee hunt for food. The endangered animal is slowing gaining ground and researchers estimate there are about 3,200 manatees in the wild.

Manatees pop out of the water for fresh air.

Things to know before you go

The Center has several viewing options, some even under cover to stay out of the sun. Visitors might have to be patient before they see one of the large mammals, but if you keep watch you’ll soon get a sneak peak of the manatees as they come up for air or flip their tails in the water.

Manatees are the main attraction, but visitors also are amazed by the large Tarpon and other fish in the clear waters. On a recent visit a stingray thrilled viewers by jumping about six feet out of the water. Spectacular!

The Apollo Beach Chamber of Commerce celebrates its connection to the manatees every year. The 17th annual  Manatee Festival of the Arts will be held March 14 & 15, 302 Noonan Branch Road in Apollo Beach.

From home, you can operate the center’s Web cameras, or you can make reservations for your class or group to visit the Manatee Viewing Center.