Intracoastal Waterway: Jacksonville's other river by noidiotsplease
When people think of Jacksonville's aquatic assets, the Atlantic Ocean and the St. Johns River are two of the first things that come to mind. However, Jacksonville's boaters, Jet Skiiers and kayakers also know that the Intracoastal Waterway provides recreational opportunities for locals and tourists alike.The Intracoastal Waterway is a part natural/part man-made, continuous inland water passage that stretches from Norfolk, Virginia to Miami, Florida. The segments that traverse Jacksonville are named the San Pablo River south of the St. Johns River and Sisters Creek north of the river. Of course, the locals usually just refer to the whole thing as the Intracoastal, the ICW or "the ditch." A unique feature of the Intracoastal in Jacksonville is that it winds its way through a wide swath of pristine wetlands that are home to vibrant ecosystems. Sure, homes on canals, a few condos and some restaurants can be found dotted along the banks of the Intracoastal but the wetlands are what dominate the view from the bridges. In all, four causeway-style bridges cross the Intracoastal in Jacksonville, linking the mainland to the barrier island beach communities. A fifth bridge also crosses the Intracoastal a little south of the city.