Exploring
The Peace River
T
he Peace River is
a gorgeous, wide
and winding river in
the
southwestern
part of the Florida
peninsula. It is 106
miles long and originates at the juncture
of Saddle Creek and
Peace Creek, northeast of Bartow, going
through Arcadia before entering Charlotte Harbor at Punta Gorda. It cuts into the limestone
substrates exposing fossils and shells throughout
the entire length. It also contains Indian artifacts
that date back more than five thousand years ago.
The river was called Rio de la Paz (River of Peace)
on 16th century Spanish charts. There are canoe
outpost, boat ramps, and charter guides that can
make your day on the river both fun and educational. In addition, there are fossil clubs that can
put you in a good location to find sharks teeth
and other prehistoric fossils such as mammoths,
horse, alligator, giant sloth, and mastodons. Fossil
hunting this bountiful river is relaxing and rewarding when you find something special to identify.
Fresh water from the Peace River is vital to
maintain the delicate salinity of Charlotte Harbor
which hosts several endangered species, as well
as commercial and recreational harvests of
shrimp, crabs, and fish. The river has always been
a vital resource to the people in its watershed.
Historically, the abundant fishery and wildlife of
Charlotte Harbor supported large populations
of people of the Caloosahatchee culture (in early
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By Capt. Ron Gauthier
historic times, the Calusa). Today, the Peace River
supplies over six million gallons per day of drinking
water to the people in the region.
There were many Pleistocene and Miocene
fossils found throughout the Peace River area,
eventually leading to the discovery of phosphate
deposits. Most of the northern watershed of the
Peace River comprises an area known as the Bone
Valley.
The Peace River is a popular destination for
fossil hunters who dig and sift the river gravel for