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Get up close with Florida’s favorite sea cows at the TECO Manatee Viewing Center, which is back open after 18 months of closure.
The government-designated manatee sanctuary attracts hundreds of manatees to the region by releasing clean, warm water in the canal near Apollo Beach from the Big Bend 4 power plant.
When the water temperature falls during the winter, manatees find refuge in the warmed areas.
Visitors can also learn about manatees at the education center, meander through a mangrove tunnel and take in the view at the nearby wildlife observation tower.
The center will remain open until April 15.
– Peter Schorsch, The Tampa Bay 100
