“Upper” or “Lower” St. Johns River Discussion
This week a reader, Jim Tracey, brought up an interesting topic of discussion: is the upstream portion of the St. Johns River, which flows south to north, properly called Lower St. Johns, due to its southern location or Upper St. Johns, due to being upstream of the mouth in northern Florida?
If you have cruised or are planning to cruise the St. Johns, and especially if you are a Floridian, we would invite you to weigh in on this “north versus south” topic. Keep it civil please!
CLICK HERE FOR:
Cruising the Upper St. Johns River – Palatka to Sanford (Lake Monroe) by Claiborne Young, February, 2013
Comments from Cruisers (5)
The river does change in look and feel above (south of) Lake George. For us, that is how we draw the line, but truly such a distinction is probably not necessary.
Tom Hale
The St. Johns is a single river with one set of mileposts. It does not have an “Upper” and a “Lower” the way, for example, the Mississippi does. So I don’t know why you need this terminology. Just say “south” and “north” (or “southern” and “northern”), or else say upriver and downriver. Confusion avoided. To say “upper” and “lower” is just going to breed confusion among an audience that has not agreed on that terminology in advance.
Sean Welsh
Lower St Johns typically means that area north of the fixed bridge at Palatka which restricts most sailboats. Upper St Johns is the segment from Palatka south to the head of navigation just east of Sanford.
I believe upriver and down river should only be used. Less confusing. The Shands bridge at Green Cove Spring has 45′ clearance while the Memorial bridge at Palaka has 65′ clearance.
Excellent suggestion. How completely understandable. Thanks Sean.