The Alafia River watershed is a textbook example of karst topography. A karst terrain is produced by acidic water dissolving the underlying bedrock (mostly limestone).
Springs are a common feature of karst topography. A spring is a natural opening in the ground where water flows directly from the aquifer to the earth’s surface. Florida has the largest concentration of springs in the world. Lithia Springs and Buckhorn Springs are in the Alafia River watershed and contribute flow to the river.
Although fed by numerous springs, the Alafia is considered a blackwater river because its waters are filled with tannins, leaf detritus and other organic materials.
