 |
||||||||||
Popular State Guides
|
The KeysThe Florida Keys, situated along the Florida Straits in Southeast United States, refer to an archipelago of nearly 1700 islands. These islands extend in a gentle arc from the southeastern tip of the Florida Peninsula, over 15 miles (24 km) south of Miami, to the south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost inhabited island in the area. They, thus, drive a wedge between the Atlantic Ocean to the east from the Gulf of Mexico to the west, and delineate one edge of Florida Bay. Over 95 % land area of the Florida Keys is located in Monroe County, Florida, and only a small part extends into the Miami-Dade County to the northeast. The Upper Florida Keys are actually the bare fractions of an ancient coral reef. The Wisconsin glaciation, which started lowering the sea levels nearly 100,000 years ago, exposed this coral reef and the surrounding marine sediments to heavy erosion, and is mainly responsible for the formation of these islands. However, the Lower Keys are thought to have formed mainly from sandy-type accumulations of limestone grains produced by plants and marine organisms. Most of the inhabited islands of the Florida Keys are interconnected and can be easily accessed via the Overseas Highway (U.S. Highway 1), which runs over most of the islands. The Upper Keys, situated in the Biscayne National Park in the Miami-Dade County, can be accessed only by boat. Some of the major true Florida Upper Keys include the Elliott Key, Adams Key, and the Old Rhodes Key. The transitional Upper Keys include the Soldier Key, Ragged Key, Boca Chita Key, and the Sands Key. Key Largo is the most significant Upper Key in the Monroe County. Plantation Key through Lower Matecumbe Key, on the other hand, constitutes the ‘Village of Islands’, incorporated as Islamorada. The city of Marathon comprises of six Middle Keys, including Key Vaca, Long Point key, Crawl Key, Grassy Key, Fat Deer Key, and Boot Key. The major Lower Keys include the Bahia Honda Key, Big Pine Key, No Name Key, Sunshine Key, Key Haven, Key West, and Summerland Key. The outlying islands include the Wisteria Island, the Sunset Key, the Marquesas Keys, and the Dry Tortugas. The Keys are home to some of the rarest species of plants and animals. The non-native plant species found on these islands include the coconut palms, hibiscus, bougainvillea, and papaya. The islands are also home to many exotic animal species, including the Key deer and the American Crocodile. Some of the major attractions on the islands for the nature lovers include the National Key Deer Refuge, the Dry Tortugas National Park, and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Tourism and fishing are the main industries in Florida Keys. Most of the inhabited islands are home to a number of tourist attractions. Key West is the most-frequented and the most-happening place in The Keys. Florida Keys attract millions of visitors every year and are truly worth visiting.
|
Top 5 National Parks
|
||||||||
USA Travel Pal © 2007-2008
Contact
