Ocala National Forest

Ocala National Forest
Farles Prairie in Ocala National Forest
Map showing the location of Ocala National Forest
Map showing the location of Ocala National Forest
Map showing the location of Ocala National Forest
Map showing the location of Ocala National Forest
LocationFlorida, U.S.
Nearest cityOcala, FL
Coordinates29°10′25″N 81°49′18″W / 29.17361°N 81.82167°W / 29.17361; -81.82167
Area430,447 acres (1,741.96 km2)
Max. elevation193 ft. (59 m): 29.0518, -81.6858
Established1908
Governing bodyU.S. Forest Service
WebsiteOcala National Forest
Juniper Springs in the Ocala National Forest

The Ocala National Forest is the second largest nationally protected forest in the U.S. State of Florida. It covers 607 square miles (1,570 km2) of North Central Florida. It is located three miles (5 km) east of Ocala and 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Gainesville. The Ocala National Forest, established in 1908, is the oldest national forest east of the Mississippi River[1] and the southernmost national forest in the continental U.S. The word Ocala is thought to be a derivative of a Timucuan term meaning "fair land" or "big hammock". The forest is headquartered in Tallahassee, as are all three National Forests in Florida, but there are local ranger district offices located in Silver Springs and Umatilla.

  1. ^ Steen, Harold (1992). The Origins of the National Forests:A Centennial Symposium. USA: Forest History Society. ISBN 0-8223-1272-7.