User:Areed99/Alligator Hole River

Alligator Hole River is a freshwater system of water feeding into the Atlantic ocean from limestone hills located on the south end of Jamaica in the Saint Elizabeth Parish east of Port Kaiser. It is roughly 1.07 miles long and contains mangrove swamps. Common hydrophytes found in the Alligator Hole River include common reed (Phragmites australis), common hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum), and long-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton nodosus).

Photo of mangrove roots in Alligator Hole River

Naturally inhabiting the river is a population of American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus). Unnaturally inhabiting the river system are a pod of three West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus), which have been kept in the Alligator Hole River since 1981.

The water that feeds into the Alligator Hole River comes out of a spring flowing from a sinkhole known as God's Well, and travels underground through the porous limestone to the start of the river.

Article body
Williams, Paul H., Jamaica Gleaner, 6 Apr 2016, https://www.pressreader.com/

Donovan, Stephen K., “A karst of thousands: Jamaica's limestone scenery” https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1046/j.0266-6979.2003.00356.x?casa_token=l44h_ez8sicAAAAA%3AHajjm9542ZBVhefdp9XZTlH8oB3K-Fb6_HH1_7JvZEj4mjUNJmbvsFHJCrwMdEEZQNzMoDBY2eRNrA

Hurst, L. (1987) The status and distribution of the West Indian manatee(Trichechus manatus) in Jamaica, with an evaluation of the aquatic vegetation of Alligator Hole River[thesis]. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida

https://www.worldtravelserver.com/travel/en/jamaica/airport_gunters_hill_airport/photo_92725077-gods-well.html

Mignucci-Giannoni, A. A., Montoya-Ospina, R. A., & Velasco-Escudero, M. (2003). Status of semi-captive manatees in Jamaica. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Mammals, 2(1), 8–12. https://doi.org/10.5597/lajam00025