Indian River (Florida)

Indian River
Indian River at Melbourne
NASA map showing Indian River on left
Location
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationPonce de Leon inlet
  elevation0 ft (0 m)
Mouth 
  location
St. Lucie Inlet
  coordinates
27°09'58"N, 80°09'24"W
  elevation
0 ft (0 m)
Length121 mi (195 km)

The Indian River is a 121-mile (195 km) long brackish-water lagoon on Florida's eastern Atlantic coast. It is part of the Indian River Lagoon system, which in turn forms part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. It was originally called Río de Ais by the Spanish, after the Ais tribe who lived along the east coast of what is now Florida.

The Indian River extends southward from the Ponce de Leon Inlet in New Smyrna Beach, across the Haulover Canal, and along the western shore of Merritt Island. The Banana River flows into the Indian River on the island's south side, at which point the Indian River continues southward to St. Lucie Inlet and Jupiter Inlet. At certain times of the year the presence of bridges restricts the natural movement and flow of Gracilaria (a genus of red algae), thus resulting in a localized odor of hydrogen sulfide.