Marion County has the same land area as the entire state of Rhode Island. For people who enjoy the outdoors, there are places to go and things to do all year round. Silver Springs is the largest artesian spring system (by flow) in the world and Florida's first tourist attraction. It contains evidence of prehistoric animals goes back more than a million years and evidence of man in the area more than 10,000 years ago. For more than a century the springs have been a tourist attraction with early visitors arriving by steamboat. Throughout the year more than 250 civic clubs and organizations promote festivals celebrating the cultural variety of Marion County. Major annual events include: "God and Country Day"; the Chamber of Commerce's Christmas Parade; Ocali-Fest; Light-Up Ocala; Brick City Days commemorating the city's rebirth in red brick following a devastating fire; the McIntosh 1890 Festival; Boomtown Days in Dunnellon; Belleview Founder's Day and a number of smaller festivals and events. The importance of agriculture is recognized through other events such as the Southeastern Youth Fair; Florida Equestrian Classic; the Shriners' Rodeo, the Professional Pro Rodeo and many breed-specific horse shows annually. Golfers may choose from 15 public, private and semi-private Marion County golf courses. One of the courses open to the public is Golden Ocala Golf & Country Club on US Highway 27, just west of I-75. What makes this course talked about in golfing circles are the eight special holes that have been designed to duplicate famous holes from Scotland's St. Andrews course, and the Masters Course in Augusta, Georgia Nearly three-quarters of the Ocala National Forest is in Marion County. The Forest offers 383,000 acres of unique ecological sites, trails, natural springs. Hundreds of camping sites throughout the forest offer everything from full-service campgrounds to more rustic sites. The National Forest also has trails for horseback riding and is part of the Florida National Scenic Trail. Parks include Salt Springs and Salt Springs Trail, Fore Lake Recreational Area, Juniper Springs, Silver Glen Springs, and the Mill Dam Recreation Area. Fore Lake Recreation Area is a day use and camping area that is open year-round. A 250-foot sandy beach is adjacent to the 77-acre Fore Lake. Opportunities for fishing, boating, swimming and other water sports abound in a region covered by hundreds of fresh-water springs, lakes and the Silver, Rainbow, Ocklawaha, and Withlacoochee Rivers. Canoeing and kayaking the Juniper Run at Juniper Springs is a fun-filled trip for the entire family, with getting back made easy since the boats and their passengers are ferried back to their cars in the parking lot at the end of their day. The pure, clean waters of springs and spring-fed lakes and rivers are a dream come true for folks enjoying snorkeling and diving.