Festival focuses on learning about manatees
For the first year, manatees are in the spotlight. Exhibits will feature information about the water-dwelling mammals.

• A map of the festival grounds
• Festival arts and crafts exhibitors
  

Tracking the manatee from above
CRYSTAL RIVER -- Like a runner loading up on carbo-heavy pasta before a marathon, Joyce Kleen is readying herself for a grueling exercise.

Protecting the precarious manatee
For decades now, officials have had to balance the need to protect manatees with the goal of allowing people access to the endangered creatures.

Couple takes pride in manatee-tour business
The Art N' Diving shop has a word-of-mouth and international reputation for catering to its clients.

We are loving manatees to extinction
I am sure you have heard it said again and again: Manatees are the gentle giants that have no enemies except man. Lately some add "and their toys."

Manatee encounters must not be harmful
The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge was created in 1983 for the primary purpose of protecting the endangered Florida manatee.

Manatee Watch volunteers: guardians to the mammals
A couple who volunteer for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's program kindly but firmly advise the people who come out to see the manatees in the refuge.

Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge Complex has friends
The Friends of the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge Complex was formed two years ago to raise funds annually to support environmental education, volunteer programs and other public outreach activities at the Chassahowitzka and Crystal River national wildlife refuges.

Changes on way for park’s manatee program
There will always be captive manatees at Homosassa Springs, officials say, but what the facilities look like and whether wild manatees should be allowed access is under discussion.

Wildlife officer works to keep manatees safe
Kam Johnson and about a dozen marine officers patrol the gulf and inland waterways of Hernando County north to Taylor County.

• How to adopt a manatee
  The Save the Manatee Club offers "manatee adoptions" in order to further their manatee protection and education work.
• Manatee-related Web sites
  
• Manatee facts
  
• Where to see manatees
  The best way to see a manatee is by visiting Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park. They have a captive herd of manatees in a natural spring setting, and the manatees are visible year-round.
• Manatee interaction rules
  While swimming with manatees, it is best to observe manatees from a distance.