Clearwater

Clearwater is a toponym used for several places and geographic features in North America and beyond. The best known is Clearwater, Florida, a city in Pinellas County within the Tampa Bay Area on the Gulf Coast. It is a coastal community with a tourism-oriented economy that emphasizes beaches, boating, and hospitality. Clearwater Beach is a popular destination, and Pier 60 hosts regular sunset celebrations. The city is also home to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, which houses rescued marine animals and has drawn attention through film representations such as Dolphin Tale.

Another notable Clearwater is Clearwater, British Columbia, a district municipality in the Thompson-North Okanagan region of Canada. It lies along the Clearwater River and functions as a local service center for agriculture, forestry, and tourism, with access to Wells Gray Provincial Park via nearby routes.

Beyond these towns, the name Clearwater is used for various rivers, counties, and communities in North America. Rivers named Clearwater River appear in multiple regions, and there are counties and municipalities adopting Clearwater in their official names.

The etymology of the term reflects the straightforward meaning of clear or clean water, a common feature cited in the naming of places associated with lakes, rivers, or coastal areas. In each instance, the name conveys a sense of transparency or pristine water, which has helped it endure as a widely used toponym.