Myakka River

{{short description|River in Florida, United States}}

{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Myakka River

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| name_etymology = {{langx|mik|Myakka}} (big water)

| image = Myakka River.jpg

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| image_caption = Myakka River in El Jobean

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| map = Myakkarivermap.png

| map_size = 200px

| map_caption = Map of Myakka River in Florida

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| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = United States

| subdivision_type2 = State

| subdivision_name2 = Florida

| subdivision_type3 = Counties

| subdivision_name3 = Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte

| subdivision_type4 = District

| subdivision_name4 = Southwest Florida Water Management District

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| length = {{convert|72|mi|km}}

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| mouth = Gulf of Mexico

| mouth_location = Charlotte Harbor

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|26.9145|N|82.1643|W|source:wikidata-and-enwiki-cat-tree_region:US|display=title,inline}}

| mouth_elevation =

| progression =

| river_system = Myakka River Watershed

| basin_size = {{convert|314.7|mi2|km2}}{{cite web|title=Myakka River: Overview & Current Conditions|url=http://www.sarasota.wateratlas.usf.edu/river/?wbodyid=14609&wbodyatlas=river|website=Sarasota County Water Atlas|agency=Sarasota County|publisher=University of South Florida Water Institute|access-date=2018-03-29 }}

| basin_landmarks = Myakka River State Park, T. Mabry Carlton Reserve, Snook Haven, Deer Prairie Creek Preserve, Jelks Preserve, Myakka State Forest, Myakka Park

| basin_population = 72,317{{cite web|title=Myakka River Watershed: Geography and Land Use|url=http://www.sarasota.wateratlas.usf.edu/watershed/geography.asp?wshedid=4&wbodyatlas=watershed|website=Sarasota County Water Atlas|agency=Sarasota County|publisher=University of South Florida Water Institute|access-date=2018-03-29 }}

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| waterbodies = Lake Myakka

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The Myakka River is a river in southwestern Florida. It arises near the Hardee-Manatee county line and flows southwest and then southeast through Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte counties to Charlotte Harbor, an arm of the Gulf of Mexico. The river is {{convert|72|mi|km}} long and has a drainage basin of 602 square miles (1559.2 km²),{{Cite book |last=Hammett |first=K. M. |url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=sqqy8SCwQEQC&pg=GBS.PA2&hl=nl |title=Physical Processes, Salinity Characteristics, and Potential Salinity Changes Due to Freshwater Withdrawals in the Tidal Myakka River, Florida |date=1992 |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey |language=en}} of which {{convert|314.7|mi2|km2}} lies in Sarasota county.{{Cite book |last=Hammett |first=K. M. |url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=sqqy8SCwQEQC&pg=GBS.PA2&hl=nl |title=Physical Processes, Salinity Characteristics, and Potential Salinity Changes Due to Freshwater Withdrawals in the Tidal Myakka River, Florida |date=1992 |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey |language=en}} The last {{convert|20|mi|km}} of the river is tidal and brackish.

The Myakka River remains relatively undeveloped. A {{convert|12|mi|km|adj=on}} stretch of the river is preserved in Myakka River State Park. A {{convert|34|mi|km|adj=on}} portion of the river in Sarasota County (including all of the park) was designated as a state Wild and Scenic River in 1985 by the Florida Legislature. Portions of the ancient water basin, however, have been altered by canals.Beever, Lisa B. (2009). “From Data to Policy: the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program Partnership in Action.” Florida Scientist, vol. 72, no. 4, p. 275. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/24321643 JSTOR website]. Retrieved 2 Oct. 2022. In 2022, the river flooding during Hurricane Ian resulted in the temporary closing of 14 miles of Interstate 75 near Port Charlotte.Meg Kinnard, Adriana Gomez Licon, et al. (1 October 2022). "Dozens dead from Ian, one of strongest, costliest US storms". [https://apnews.com/article/hurricanes-floods-florida-north-carolina-caribbean-f537bc6e6d9481c4680a4a7af238bc6c AP website] Retrieved 1 October 2022.