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Biscayne National Park
Reached via Florida's Turnpike (exit 2, Campbell Drive) and S.W. 328th St. (North Canal Drive), Biscayne National Park encompasses a huge part of southeast Florida. The park offers a look at an unspoiled part of Florida. Only 4,370 of its 173,000 acres are land; the rest are water, and there is as much to see below its surface as there is above it.
Biscayne National Park has four biological systems: the mainland mangrove forests, Biscayne Bay, the upper Florida Keys and the underwater reefs. Shallow Biscayne Bay, which is between the coast and the northernmost Florida Keys, has clear water and is home to sponges, crabs, dolphins and manatees, endangered mammals that favor the bay's warm waters.
The undeveloped upper Florida Keys are the result of many thousands of years of construction by the tiny animals collectively known as coral. The 20 miles of the park's reefs were formed by more than 100 species of coral and harbor more than 200 different kinds of fish, including brilliantly colored parrotfish, angelfish and wrasses. Moray eels also inhabit many of the underwater crevices.
To preserve the fragile reefs, visitors must anchor boats in the sandy bottoms, not on the coral. Do not touch the coral; doing so will kill it. Also, do not sit or stand on the coral, as it breaks easily and can cause painful cuts. Collecting coral, plants, animals, shipwreck artifacts or any other "souvenir" is prohibited.
The upper keys support other endangered species. Bald eagles, ospreys, pelicans, egrets and other large birds find refuge in the dense vegetation. Arsenicker and West Arsenicker keys are important nesting areas and therefore are closed to the public.
The islands feature many tropical plants that originated from seeds either blown here by West Indian winds or deposited by birds. On the mainland are forests of mangroves, easily recognized by their twisted roots, which trap and filter out sediment that would otherwise harm the water and its inhabitants. The mangrove roots provide excellent hiding places and food sources for young fish--another function vital to the region's food chain.
Biscayne National Park is an undeveloped wilderness. Camping is permitted only on Elliott Key and Boca Chita Key, which can be reached only by boat. Because the park is accessible primarily by boat, it is helpful to get a tour boat schedule from the headquarters on Convoy Point, reached via Florida's Turnpike (exit 2, Campbell Drive) and S.W. 328th St. (North Canal Drive). The facility is open daily 9-5.
Canoe rentals also are available. Reservations are required for all trips and rentals and must be confirmed before departure; phone (305) 230-1100.
For further park information contact Biscayne National Park, 9700 S.W. 328th St., Homestead, FL 33033-5634; phone (305) 230-7275.
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