Alafia River

The Alafia River is a 25-mile-long river in Hillsborough County, Florida, with a watershed of 335 square miles, flowing into Tampa Bay. The river is formed by two prongs that combine to form the main river, which then flows 24.7 miles into Tampa Bay. The Alafia River was home to various native tribes, including the Tocobaga and the Mocoso, and was explored by European expeditions in the 16th century. The river was named "River of Fire" due to its phosphoric content, which makes it glow at night. The river has a history of flooding, leading to the construction of numerous residences on stilts, and has been impacted by a major phosphate spill in 1997, as well as additional spills in 2016. The river and its watershed are protected by various parks and preserves, including Alafia River State Park and the Alafia Scrub Nature Preserve.learn more on wikipedia