The St. Johns River, at 310 miles (500 km), is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida. From the headwaters to the mouth, its drop in elevation is less than 30 feet (9 m) as it runs through or alongside twelve counties, creating a very low flow rate. The river's widest point is nearly 3 miles (5 km) across, and its narrowest point is in the headwaters, a marsh in Indian River County. In all, 3.5 million people live within the various watersheds that feed into the river. The entire drainage basin of 8,840 square miles (22,900 km2) includes some of Florida's major wetlands. Residents along or near the St. Johns have included Paleo-Indians, Archaic people, Timucua, Mocama, French and Spanish settlers, Seminoles, Colonial-era pioneer settlers, slaves and freedmen. It has been the subject of William Bartram's journals, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings' books, and Harriet Beecher Stowe's letters. In 1998 the Environmental Protection Agency named the river one of 14 American Heritage Rivers.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Johns_River

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1602:

The Bodleian Library, one of Europe's oldest libraries, opened at the University of Oxford. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodleian_Library

1837:

In South Hadley, Massachusetts, US, Mary Lyon founded a seminary for women that became Mount Holyoke College, the first of the Seven Sisters group of colleges. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Holyoke_College

1940:

The Italian invasion of Greece failed as outnumbered Greek units repulsed the Italians in the Battle of Elaia–Kalamas. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Elaia%E2%80%93Kalamas

1965:

Vietnam War: In the Battle of Gang Toi, one of the earliest battles between the two sides, Viet Cong forces repelled an Australian attack. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Gang_Toi

2013:

Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the Visayas region of the Philippines, killing at least 6,300 people, making it the deadliest Philippine typhoon recorded in modern history. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_Haiyan

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

klecksography: The art of making images from inkblots. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/klecksography

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

I saw and understood that every Shewing is full of secret things.   --Julian of Norwich https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Julian_of_Norwich