I have been told that they are fresh water others have told me salt water. Can anyone tell me for sure

Both. There are both salt and fresh water marshes, as well as fresh water rivers, lakes, etc.

where does the fresh water come from . I am new to Florida and I am also very curious. Thanks for answering me.

I am a USCG license Captain with about 25 plus years crusing the Florida waterways...

All of the Intracostal Waterways are salt water with the exception of the Okeechobee Canal that has 3 locks(just like the Panama Canal) that extends from Ft. Myers across the state, thru Lake Okeechobee and ends at Stuart, Florida..

You can travel the entire east coast of Florida without going out to open sea... On the west coast , going north from the keys, you pick up the intracoastal again at Ft Myers and then you can travel from there all the way up to Tarpon Springs.... From there to the Panhandle is open water...then you can pick up the waterway again at Carrabelle....then proceed inside to the west to Brownsville , Texas.....

Great crusing....Done it many times....

My apologies, I misunderstood the question. I was thinking of intracoastal waterways in general (waterways that are between coasts), not the intracoastal waterway.

quote:

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Originally posted by donrent:
I am a USCG license Captain with about 25 plus years crusing the Florida waterways...

All of the Intracostal Waterways are salt water with the exception of the Okeechobee Canal that has 3 locks(just like the Panama Canal) that extends from Ft. Myers across the state, thru Lake Okeechobee and ends at Stuart, Florida..

You can travel the entire east coast of Florida without going out to open sea... On the west coast , going north from the keys, you pick up the intracoastal again at Ft Myers and then you can travel from there all the way up to Tarpon Springs.... From there to the Panhandle is open water...then you can pick up the waterway again at Carrabelle....then proceed inside to the west to Brownsville , Texas.....

Great crusing....Done it many times....

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Thank you so much for the info. really appreciated

You're welcome..... Glad to see you-all wearing those sunglasses dowh herr ..... Make sure those er polirized fur water travel.....

Any mo about crusing, just ax........
Capt. Don