Melbourne Nature Tours Provide Close Glimpse of Ecosystem unlike Any Other

Spanning 40 percent of Florida’s east coast, the Indian River Lagoon boasts one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems just outside Orlando


The word “lagoon” is a mysterious phrase evoking images of wild jungles, endless schools of fish, and protection from the open ocean. When most people think of Florida though, they’re surprised to learn this type of place exists on the doorstep of the Orlando theme parks and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.



The Indian River Lagoon is actually a grouping of 3 lagoons (Mosquito, Banana River and Indian River) along Florida’s east coast and a complex mix of estuarine, terrestrial and wetland environments. Beginning at Ponce de Leon Inlet just south of Daytona Beach, the Indian River Lagoon system spans 156 miles to its southern terminus at Jupiter Inlet just north of West Palm Beach.

The entire watershed covers an astounding 2,284 square miles!

The Lagoon is part of the longest chain of barrier islands anywhere in the United States. It’s also important to note that the Indian River Lagoon is NOT a river, but rather an estuary.

This area is called a lagoon because of the limited points where salt and freshwater mix. In fact, there are only 2 natural inlets in the entire 156 mile span. Three additional man-made inlets at Sebastian, Ft. Pierce and St. Lucie also provide limited access points between the Atlantic Ocean and the Lagoon. An additional inlet at Port Canaveral separates the Lagoon from the ocean through “locks” (like a dam), so no mixture takes place.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and the USGS

Other interesting facts about the Indian River Lagoon include:

• *Water depth in the Lagoon averages 4 feet deep
• *Width of the Lagoon’s waterways ranges from a ½-mile to 5 miles across
• Nearly 1/3 of all manatees in the United States call the Indian River Lagoon home
• The Lagoon sits in a transitional area between a more temperate climate to the north and more sub-tropical climate to the south
• Despite rapid growth in the last century, the Indian River Lagoon includes 5 state parks, 4 federal wildlife refuges and the Canaveral National Seashore

We invite you to continue reading for more in-depth information about the Indian River Lagoon and a few things you can expect to see on a Melbourne nature tour.

Despite past and current challenges, the Indian River Lagoon boasts on the most biologically diverse habitats of anywhere in the world

Since the Lagoon sits in a transition zone between a temperate and sub-tropical climate, it boasts one of the most ecologically diverse estuary environments of anywhere else in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s estimated that over 3500 plant and animal species call the Indian River Lagoon home. Plants and animals from both climate zones overlap in the Lagoon.

Some of the more common plant and animal species you may encounter on a Melbourne nature tour include:

• Florida Manatees – weighing anywhere from 1000 to 3500 pounds, these slow swimmers, or “sea cows,” are actually related to the elephant. The Lagoon’s warm waters are an ideal habitat for these gentle giants for most of the year. The manatees’ main diet consists of seagrass, but they’re also known to feast on other vegetation.
• Bottlenose Dolphins – encountering a “school” of dolphins up close on a nature tour in the Indian River Lagoon around Melbourne is a real delight. These sleek bodied creatures can weigh up to 1,100 pounds but move at an impressive 20 mph and jump over 16-feet out of the water. Dolphins in the Lagoon feed mostly on shrimp, crabs and small fish.
• Mangroves – this type of tree kind of looks like a large shrub, but is a vital part of the estuary environment. The mangrove is one of only a few trees that are tolerant of salt water. Mangroves serve as habitat for a wide variety of fish and their food sources. They also play a critical role in filtering nutrients from runoff as it enters the estuary and also protect the shoreline during storms. While the value of mangroves is better understood today, development along the Lagoon’s shoreline has taken its toll on the mangroves.
• Seagrass – as the name implies, this is simply grass that’s underwater. Many seagrass beds in the Lagoon and around Florida look like large meadows. Not only do seagrass beds offer habitat to a wide variety of fish, shrimp and crabs, they also protect the bottom of the ocean floor and surrounding beaches from erosion. Despite the challenges of tidal blooms caused by nutrient runoff, extreme water temperature and salinity changes, seagrass covers over 100,000 acres within the Indian River Lagoon.

Of course, this barely scratches the surface of the plants and animals you may see on a Melbourne nature tour in the Indian River Lagoon. This doesn’t include fish like snook, redfish or tarpon, sea turtles, or bird species like the sea gull, sandpiper, eagles and egrets.

Melbourne Nature Tours Provider

Calypso Kayaking offers residents and visitors to Melbourne with personalized nature tours of the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem in either a kayak or stand-up paddleboard. Phil Galloway has been exploring the backwaters and barrier islands of the Lagoon for decades, and knows how to show you the treasures of the Lagoon in a relaxing, safe way. To learn more or to schedule your Melbourne nature tour, contact Phil Galloway by calling (321) 639-7350 or emailing tours@calypsokayaking.com today!