The Mammoth Spring
"In Fulton county is a remarkable phenomenon, its waters either by
compression, or from some other peculiar cause, contains apparently, in
solution, such a great amount of carbonic acid, that its surface is in a
continuous state of effervescence or bubbling, resembling the effervescence of
a fountain of soda water. The constant
temperature of the water, 60 degrees, favors apparently, the development of
animal life; and the number of species of water plants growing near the
borders, but still in the waters, such as Indian rice, water cress, marsh
speedwell, etc., is the cause of allurement for fowls, especially during the
winter months. This place will,
doubtless in the future, acquire great importance as affording a healthy and
pleasant place of summer resort.
"The main body of water issues from a large cavernous opening,
forty yards in circumference, and boils up with a constant flow, at the rate of
8,000 barrels per minute. It affords
valuable water power for general manufacturing purposes."
The following poem was published in The Daily Democrat Newspaper,
THE MAMMOTH SPRING
I
know you’ve heard of a little town,
Tucked
away in the Ozark hills;
Where
the largest spring in the world is found.
Whose
source with mystery thrills,
The
minds of travelers, who stop to scan,
This
wonder of nature, the boon to man.
Its
crystal waters flow swift and wide.
Mid
verdure green thru’ the country side.
And
pause the wheels of industry to turn,
That
many bright lights of the town will burn.
The
motorboats glide o’er its surface blue,
A
glass bottom boat, and the old canoe,
Furnish
plenty of fun, so I’ve been told,
For
the old as well as the young.
Perhaps
you’re planning a trip to take,
To
mountains cool or silvery lake.
I
hope you’ll consider the praises I sing,
And
come view the beautiful Mammoth Spring.
The poem was signed “A Visitor.”
I do remember as a child going to visit my grandparents and my cousins
took me boating and swimming at the lake.
The lake has been changed since it was made into an
The following links will explain more about these natural resources.
Below are photos that my husband, Mike Davis, took on our last visit to
Mammoth Spring during Jul 2010.
Photos may take a bit of time to load.
Please be patient.
Mammoth
Dam near Mammoth Spring State Park
Updated 27 SEP 2010