The Arsenicker Keys or Arsnicker Keys may refer to any one of three groups of islands in southern Florida , in the United States . "Arsenicker", or "Arsnicker", is a corruption of "Marsh sneaker", a name used by Bahamians for the Great Blue Heron .
99-613: The Arsenicker Keys ( 25°23′38″N 80°17′52″W / 25.3939°N 80.2978°W / 25.3939; -80.2978 ) are a group of islands at the southern end of Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade County . They are located within Biscayne National Park . The group includes: Ibis , herons , and cormorants nest on the Arsenicker keys, and frigatebirds roost there seasonally. Arsenicker Key and West Arsenicker Key, and
198-548: A barrier island and Miami on the mainland , from Dumfoundling Bay on the north to the Rickenbacker Causeway to the south. Other municipalities on the western shore of the lagoon include Aventura (on Dumfoundling Bay), North Miami Beach, North Miami , and Miami Shores . Municipalities bordering the lagoon on the barrier islands north of Miami Beach include Sunny Isles Beach, Bal Harbour , Bay Harbor Islands , Surfside , and Indian Creek Village . North Bay Village
297-595: A causeway and bridges connecting Key Biscayne to the Ragged Keys and beyond on the grounds that such construction would block the free outflow of storm surges from the bay across the flats to the ocean. It is believed that it does moderate the effects of storm surges on the bay. The transportation of sand southward along the Atlantic Coast of Florida by longshore drift ends in the area of the Safety Valve. The structure of
396-458: A decline in the late nineteenth century. The Keys were long accessible only by water. This changed with the completion of Henry Flagler 's Overseas Railway in the early 1910s. Flagler, a major developer of Florida's Atlantic coast, extended his Florida East Coast Railway down to Key West with an ambitious series of oversea railroad trestles. Three hurricanes disrupted the project in 1906 , 1909 , and 1910 . The strongest hurricane to strike
495-523: A dry season from November through April, that features little rainfall, sunny skies, and warm breezy conditions. The warm and sunny winter climate, with average highs around 75 °F (24 °C) and lows above 60 °F (16 °C), is the main tourist season in the Florida Keys. Key West is the driest city in Florida, and most of the Florida Keys can become quite dry at the height of the dry season. Some of
594-634: A focus of management activities in Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge . About 70 miles (110 km) west of Key West is Dry Tortugas National Park . The waters surrounding the Keys are part of a protected area known as the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary . The climate of the Florida Keys is tropical savanna ( Köppen climate classification : Aw). Other than some areas of coastal Miami (Miami Beach),
693-522: A lagoon behind the ancient reef that became the Key Largo limestone, and is the same age as the Key Largo limestone. The limestone bottom of the lagoon is overlain by 1.2 to 4.6 metres (3.9 to 15.1 ft) of sand, carbonate mud, and coral rubble sediments. For purposes of discussion and analysis, Biscayne Bay is often divided into three sections: North Bay, Central Bay, and South Bay. The North Bay of Biscayne Bay principally lies between Miami Beach on
792-581: A legal injunction against the blockade failed in federal court in Miami , on April 23, 1982, Key West mayor Dennis Wardlow and the city council declared the independence of the city of Key West , calling it the " Conch Republic ". After one minute of secession, he (as "Prime Minister") surrendered to an officer of the Key West Naval Air Station (NAS) and requested US$ 1,000,000,000 in " foreign aid ". The stunt succeeded in generating great publicity for
891-568: A location in the Florida Keys. Due to its distance from the open ocean and the restrictive passages between other components of Biscayne Bay, Manatee Bay experiences low tidal exchange, while the C-197 canal allows fresh water from the C-111 canal to flow into Manatee Bay. Salinity levels in Manatee Bay range from 14 parts-per-thousand (ppt) to 45 ppt (seawater has an average salinity of 35 ppt). In July 2023,
990-538: A maximum depth of 4 metres (13 ft). The eastern rim of the lagoon is based on an ancient coral reef which existed along the southeastern edge of the Florida Platform about 100,000 years ago. The ensuing Wisconsin glaciation lowered sea levels, leaving the reef above water. The dead reef became fossilized, forming the Key Largo Limestone (commonly called "coral rock"). Key Largo Limestone underlies
1089-603: A point between North Miami Beach and Sunny Isles Beach south to the Arsenicker Keys and the Cutter Bank just to the east of those islands. Many discussions about the lagoon include Dumfoundling Bay, a small lagoon just north of North Miami Beach, as part of Biscayne Bay, and include Card Sound and Barnes Sound , in southern Miami-Dade County adjacent to Key Largo , as either part of a system of connected lagoons including Biscayne Bay, or as part of Biscayne Bay itself. The lagoon
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#17328549209341188-629: A second causeway connecting Miami to the barrier islands of Miami Beach, and the County Causeway—;later the MacArthur Causeway —opened on February 17, 1920. In 1925, Biscayne Point was created in Miami Beach's north end. In 1929, a third causeway crossed Biscayne Bay at Normandy Isle , which developer Henri Levy had created several years earlier by dredging and filling the south half of Meade Island. The Julia Tuttle Causeway
1287-674: A small park. It is located on the John F. Kennedy (79th Street) Causeway in North Bay. The City of Miami has many parks fronting on the lagoon, the more important of which are Bayfront Park , Alice Wainwright Park , Margaret Pace Park , Maurice A. Ferré Park , Morningside Park, and Peacock Park . Public marinas on Biscayne Bay operated by the City of Miami include: Dinner Key Marina, Miami Marine Stadium Marina, and Miamarina at Bayside . The Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve includes most of Biscayne Bay (in
1386-450: A small portion extends northeast into Miami-Dade County , such as Totten Key . The total land area is 137.3 square miles (356 km ). At the 2010 census the population was 73,090, with an average density of 532.34 per square mile (205.54/km ), although much of the population is concentrated in a few areas of much higher density, such as the city of Key West, which has 32% of the Keys' total population. The 2014 Census population estimate
1485-722: A submerged oolitic deposit. The bars lithified into Miami Limestone, and with changes in sea level are presently exposed as the islands, while the channels between the bars now separate the islands. Just offshore of the Florida Keys along the edge of the Florida Straits is the Florida Reef (also known as the Florida Reef Tract), separated from the keys by the Hawk Channel . The Florida Reef extends 170 miles (270 km) from Fowey Rocks just east of Soldier Key to just south of
1584-488: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Biscayne Bay Biscayne Bay is a lagoon with characteristics of an estuary located on the Atlantic coast of South Florida . The northern end of the lagoon is surrounded by the densely developed heart of the Miami metropolitan area while the southern end is largely undeveloped with a large portion of the lagoon included in Biscayne National Park . The part of
1683-403: Is at Black Point. Florida Keys The Florida Keys are a coral cay archipelago off the southern coast of Florida , forming the southernmost part of the continental United States. They begin at the southeastern coast of the Florida peninsula , about 15 miles (24 km) south of Miami and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West , the westernmost of
1782-589: Is bordered on its west by the mainland of Florida, and is separated from the Atlantic Ocean to the east by a string of barrier islands in the northern part of the lagoon, a large shoal in the central section, and the northernmost of the Florida Keys in the south. The lagoon is about 35 miles (56 km) long from Dumfoundling Bay (25° 58′ North latitude) (north of North Miami Beach) to Card Sound, and another 25 miles (40 km) to Jewfish Creek (25° 24′ North latitude), if Card Sound and Barnes Sound are included in
1881-522: Is home to Winter Star Party , a prominent annual amateur astronomy event in the United States, and one of the Top 10 star parties in the world according to BBC Sky at Night . It is an international gathering that attracts 500+ people each year who enjoy stargazing, astrophotography and Milky Way photography. Bahia Honda State Park is a well known dark skies location among locals offering unobstructed views of
1980-400: Is located on two artificial islands in the middle of the lagoon. North Bay is the part of the lagoon that has been most modified by human works, including channels and other dredged areas, and spoil banks and artificial islands created with material dredged from channels. More than 40% of the area of North Bay had either been dredged or filled to form artificial islands, and more than half of
2079-520: Is not one of the Florida Keys, but the southernmost of the barrier islands along the Atlantic coast of Florida. The main chain of Keys islands can be traveled by motor vehicles on the Overseas Highway , a 127-mile (204 km) section of U.S. 1 , which runs from Key West to Fort Kent, Maine in its entirety. The highway was built parallel to the original route of the Overseas Railway , which
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#17328549209342178-442: Is now Fisher Island at the south end of Miami Beach . The opening of Government Cut in 1905 separated Fisher Island from Miami Beach and slightly shortened the barrier spit. The dredging of Baker's Haulover Inlet in 1925 across the barrier spit near the north end of the bay converted that part of the barrier spit where Miami Beach was located into a barrier island. Modification of the flow of fresh water through waterways, and
2277-483: Is the least affected by human activities, although it also suffers from the loss of natural fresh water flow. The Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station is a significant presence on the mainland shore. Card Sound is an extension of Biscayne Bay to the south of South Bay. Little Card Sound is the next south, separated from Card Sound by Card Bank. The causeway of the Card Sound Bridge now separates Barnes Sound to
2376-714: The Cutler Fossil Site , a sinkhole that is now a couple of kilometers from the bay. At the time of European contact, in the early 16th century, the area around the bay was occupied by the Tequesta . The Tequesta belonged to the Glades culture , which had been in place for about 2,000 years. The chief town of the Tequesta, also called Tequesta, was on the bay at the mouth of the Miami River, from about 1200. The Miami Circle , just south of
2475-536: The United States Border Patrol established a roadblock and inspection points on US Highway 1 , stopping all northbound traffic returning to the mainland at Florida City , to search vehicles for illegal drugs and undocumented immigrants. The Key West City Council repeatedly complained about the roadblocks, which were a major inconvenience for travellers, and hurt the Keys' important tourism industry. After various unsuccessful complaints and attempts to get
2574-673: The University of Miami 's Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science are located on the southern end of Virginia Key , the only part of that island bordering on Central Bay. Grove Isle , near the Miami neighborhood of Coconut Grove , is an artificial island in Central Bay. The large marina at Dinner Key is also in Coconut Grove. Central Bay has been adversely affected primarily by bulkheading, urban runoff discharged by canals, and
2673-589: The longest bridges when it was built, the Seven Mile Bridge connects Knight's Key (part of the city of Marathon in the Middle Keys) to Little Duck Key in the Lower Keys. The piling-supported concrete bridge is 35,862 ft (10,931 m) or 6.79 miles (10.93 km) long. The current bridge bypasses Pigeon Key , a small island that housed workers building Henry Flagler 's Florida East Coast Railway in
2772-711: The 16th century that a sailor from the Bay of Biscay called the Viscayno or Biscayno had lived on the lower east coast of Florida for a while after being shipwrecked, and a 17th-century map shows a Cayo de Biscainhos , the probable origin of the name for Key Biscayne . The lagoon was known as "Key Biscayne Bay" in the 19th century, finally shrinking to "Biscayne Bay" late in the 19th century. The lagoon has been known by several names. Juan Ponce de León called it Chequescha in 1513, and Pedro Menéndez de Avilés called it Tequesta in 1565. Those names are variant spellings of " Tequesta ",
2871-506: The 1900s, that the original Seven Mile Bridge crossed. A 2.2-mile (3.5 km) section of the old bridge remains for access to the island, although it was closed to vehicular traffic on March 4, 2008. The aging structure has been deemed unsafe by the Florida Department of Transportation . Costly repairs, estimated to be as much as $ 34 million, were expected to begin in July 2008. Monroe County
2970-669: The 1980s, when new highway bridges were built alongside. Many of the original railroad and highway bridges remain today as pedestrian fishing piers. The Florida Keys has public bus transportation. Despite this reconstruction, U.S. 1 was not widened on a large scale, and today most of the route consists of just two lanes. Due to their tropical climate, the Florida Keys attract several hundred thousand tourists annually. While some visitors arrive via Key West International Airport and Florida Keys Marathon Airport in Marathon , cruise ship or ferry from Miami , Fort Myers , or Marco Island, Florida,
3069-679: The Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves. Card Sound and Barnes Sound lie within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary . The Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge on Key Largo includes 650 acres (2.6 km ) of open water in Card Sound and Barnes Sound. Lobsters are protected year-round in the Biscayne Bay-Card Sound Lobster Sanctuary. The sanctuary includes all of the lagoon from a line running from Cape Florida to Matheson Hammock County Park south to
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3168-530: The Card Sound Bridge and causeway. The sea level at Virginia Key has been rising at an average rate of 2.97 millimetres (0.117 in) a year from 1931 to 2020, equivalent to 0.97 feet (0.30 m) a century. The islands adjacent to the lagoon are low-lying and threatened with significant flooding in the near future. Gas and oil exploration wells have been drilled near the lagoon, although none reached exploitable deposits. Canals and quarries have disturbed
3267-530: The Cooper Islands in the 18th century. The group includes Center Key. The Lower Arsnicker Keys ( 24°33′05″N 80°29′37″W / 24.5514°N 80.4936°W / 24.5514; -80.4936 ) are another group of islands in Florida Bay. This Miami-Dade County, Florida location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Monroe County, Florida location article
3366-528: The Eastern edge of the barrier islands and the shoals (Safety Valve) along the northern and middle part of the lagoon. It makes a brief appearance at Soldier Key , in the middle of the Safety Valve, and rises above sea level to the south to form the upper Florida Keys. The western side of the bay has characteristics of an estuary , with 16 waterways, the largest of which is the Miami River , flowing into it. All of
3465-496: The Florida Keys are the only areas in the continental United States to never report freezing temperatures since settlement. The record low in Key West is 41 °F (5 °C) (in both 1886 and 1981), and low temperatures below 48 °F (9 °C) are rare. Most of the Florida Keys fall into USDA zone 11a to 11b; Key West is zone 12a. There are two main "seasons" in the Florida Keys, a hot and wet season from June through October, and
3564-462: The Florida Keys north of Key Largo, are within the boundaries of Biscayne National Park . A number of other state and local parks front on the lagoon, primarily on North Bay and the northern rim of Central Bay. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is located on the southern part of Key Biscayne. Oleta River State Park is located on the south side of the Oleta River where it flows into the segment of
3663-475: The Intracoastal Waterway connecting Dumfoundling Bay and North Bay, fronting on North Bay as it widens to the south. Miami-Dade County operates a number of parks with frontage on Biscayne Bay. Haulover Park is on the barrier island running north from Baker's Haulover Inlet. Crandon Park covers the northern part of Key Biscayne. The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens are located on the mainland in Miami near
3762-471: The Keys' plight, and the inspection station roadblock was removed. The idea of the Conch Republic has provided a new source of revenue for the Keys by way of tourist keepsake sales, and the Conch Republic has participated in later protests. The northern and central sections of the Florida Keys are the exposed portions of an ancient coral reef , the Key Largo Limestone . The northernmost island arising from
3861-526: The Lower Keys in 1998, before making landfall in Mississippi . In 2005, Hurricanes Katrina , Rita and Wilma affected the Keys (although none made a direct hit), causing widespread damage and flooding. The most severe hurricane to hit the area was the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 , a Category 5 hurricane. Tropical cyclones present special dangers and challenges to the entire Keys. Because no area of
3960-606: The Lower Keys may be uninhabitable for months. U.S. Highway 1 , the " Overseas Highway ", runs over most of the inhabited islands of the Florida Keys. The islands are listed in order from southwest to north. Mile markers are listed for keys that the Overseas Highway runs across or near: The Seven Mile Bridge (MM 40-46¾) separates the Lower Keys from the Middle Keys: (Knights, Vaca, Boot, Long Point, Crawl, and Grassy Keys, as well as most of Fat Deer Key, are incorporated in
4059-568: The MacArthur Causeway have been created, in whole or in part, with material dredged from the lagoon bottom. Most of the islands, such as the Venetian Islands, are residential. Brickell Key , another residential island, is just south of the mouth of the Miami River. Dodge Island , across the main ship channel to the south of the MacArthur Causeway, was enlarged in the 1960s when the Port of Miami
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4158-592: The Marquesas Keys. It is the third-largest barrier reef system in the world. The climate and environment of the Florida Keys are closer to that of the Caribbean than the rest of Florida, though unlike the Caribbean's volcanic islands, the Keys were built by plants and animals. The Upper Keys islands are composed of sandy-type accumulations of limestone grains produced by plants and marine organisms. The Lower Keys are
4257-552: The Miami Limestone that is the current surface bedrock of the lower Florida peninsula and the lower keys from Big Pine Key to Key West. To the west of Key West the ancient reef is covered by recent calcareous sand. While the islands of the upper and middle keys, consisting of Key Largo Limestone, form a long narrow arc, the islands of the lower keys are perpendicular to the line of that arc. This configuration arose from an ancient tidal-bar system, in which tidal channels cut through
4356-823: The Miami-Dade County-Monroe County line, and from the limit of Florida territorial waters in the Atlantic to the Intracoastal Waterway in Biscayne Bay. When the Biscayne National Monument was upgraded to a National Park, all waters in the National Park were removed from the Biscayne Bay-Cape Florida to Monroe County Line Aquatic Preserve. The remainder of that preserve consists of about 4,163 acres (16.85 km ) of submerged lands near Key Biscayne. The two preserves are known collectively as
4455-414: The Safety Valve has been stable for at least the last century. (The area was called Bocas de Miguel de Mora on Spanish maps and derroteros during the era of Spanish Florida . ) Stiltsville is a collection of buildings on pilings on several sand flats at the northern end of the Safety Valve. What is now Biscayne Bay was a freshwater basin 4,000 years ago. As the sea level rose, ocean water entered
4554-433: The U.S. coast since reliable weather records began (about 1850). The other storms were Hurricane Camille (1969), Hurricane Andrew (1992), and Hurricane Michael (2018). In 1935, new bridges were under construction to connect a highway through the entire Keys. Hundreds of World War I veterans working on the roadway as part of a government relief program were housed in non-reinforced buildings in three construction camps in
4653-524: The U.S. made landfall near Islamorada in the Upper Keys on Labor Day, Monday, September 2, 1935. Winds were estimated to have gusted to 200 mph (320 km/h), raising a storm surge more than 17.5 feet (5.3 m) above sea level that washed over the islands. More than 400 people were killed, though some estimates place the number of deaths at more than 600. The Labor Day hurricane was one of only four hurricanes to make landfall at Category 5 strength on
4752-510: The US mainland and the largest coral reef chain in the United States. Following the Cuban Revolution , many Cubans emigrated to South Florida. Key West traditionally had strong links with its neighbor ninety miles south by water, and large numbers of Cubans settled there. The Keys still attract Cubans leaving their home country, and stories of "rafters" coming ashore are not uncommon. In 1982,
4851-513: The Upper Keys. When the evacuation train failed to reach the camps before the storm, more than 200 veterans perished. Their deaths caused anger and charges of mismanagement that led to a Congressional investigation. The storm also ended the 23-year run of the Overseas Railway; the damaged tracks were never rebuilt, and the Overseas Highway ( U.S. Highway 1 ) replaced the railroad as the main transportation route from Miami to Key West. One of
4950-535: The ancient reef formation is Elliott Key , in Biscayne National Park . North of Elliott Key are several small transitional keys, composed of sand built up around small areas of exposed ancient reef. Further north, Key Biscayne and places north are barrier islands , built up of sand. The islands in the southwestern part of the chain, from Big Pine Key to the Marquesas Keys , are exposed areas of Miami Limestone . The Florida Keys have taken their present form as
5049-456: The area's protected waters. A ferry takes riders between Key West and Fort Myers , as well as Marco Island due north on the mainland, along the western edge of Florida Bay. Middle and Lower Florida Keys are among a few remaining South Florida dark skies locations accessible by car, thanks to their position along the Atlantic Ocean, and therefore with southern skies unobstructed by light pollution associated with urban development. Scout Key
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#17328549209345148-475: The basin, turning it into an estuary/lagoon. Before the 20th century, a coastal ridge west of and parallel to the bay caused most of the ground water west of the ridge to flow towards the Everglades and Florida Bay , while ground water on the narrow coastal strip east of the ridge flowed into the bay. Freshwater marshes were located all along the western shore of the bay, and fresh water springs were located along
5247-533: The bay was in the news when a bouy there recorded a water temperature of 101.1 °F (38.4 °C). The Safety Valve is a series of shallow sand flats separated by tidal flow channels, stretching about 8 miles (13 km) from the south end of Key Biscayne to the Ragged Keys just north of the Florida Keys . The term "safety valve" was applied to the tidal flats by Ralph Munroe , who argued against building
5346-651: The bedrock on the shores of the lagoon. Miami-Dade County operates a 300-acre (120 ha) landfill at Black Point adjacent to the lagoon. Miami-Dade County operates three wastewater treatment plants close to the lagoon. The oldest is the Central District Wastewater Treatment Plant on Virginia Key. The North District Wastewater Treatment Plant is in North Miami, and the South District Wastewater Treatment Plant
5445-793: The city of Marathon . The remaining portion of Fat Deer Key and most of Shelter Key are part of Key Colony Beach .): The Long Key Bridge (MM 63¼-65¼) separates the Middle Keys from the Upper Keys: (Lower Matecumbe through Plantation Keys are incorporated as Islamorada , Village of Islands. The "towns" of Key Largo , North Key Largo and Tavernier , all on the island of Key Largo, are not incorporated.): All keys north of Broad Creek are in Biscayne National Park and Miami-Dade County . The following are "true" Florida Keys (exposed ancient coral reefs): The following are "transitional keys", made of exposed ancient reef surrounded by sand: Key Biscayne
5544-480: The destruction of the Keys railway by the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 , the railroad bridges, including the Seven Mile Bridge, were converted to automobile roadways. This roadway, U.S. Highway 1, became the Overseas Highway that runs from Key Largo south to Key West. Today this highway allows travel through the tropical islands of the Florida Keys and the viewing of exotic plants and animals found nowhere else on
5643-548: The house. Nonetheless, Monroe County, as reported in the Federal Register, has estimated that there are between 8,000 and 12,000 illegal enclosures inhabited by people. Because of the threat from storm surge, evacuations are routinely ordered when the National Weather Service issues a hurricane watch or warning, and are sometimes ordered for a tropical storm warning. Evacuation of the Keys depends on causeways and
5742-408: The houses on the Keys and another 65% suffered major damage. Most residents had evacuated before the storm hit the area. On September 12, parts of the Keys were still inaccessible by causeway and some areas were closed to the public. Governor Rick Scott reported devastation; most areas were without power or water. The damage was the worst in the Lower Keys, though less severe in Key West; parts of
5841-439: The inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry Tortugas . The islands lie along the Florida Straits , dividing the Atlantic Ocean to the east from the Gulf of Mexico to the northwest, and defining one edge of Florida Bay . The southern part of Key West is 93 miles (150 km) from Cuba . The Keys are located between about 24.3 and 25.5 degrees North latitude. More than 95% of the land area lies in Monroe County , but
5940-463: The islands Los Martires ("The Martyrs"), as they looked like suffering men from a distance. "Key" is derived from the Spanish word cayo , meaning small island. For many years, Key West was the largest town in Florida, and it grew prosperous on wrecking revenues. The isolated outpost was well located for trade with Cuba and the Bahamas and was on the main trade route from New Orleans . Improved navigation led to fewer shipwrecks, and Key West went into
6039-405: The islands is more than 20 feet (6.1 m) above sea level (and many are only a few feet elevation), and water surrounds the islands, nearly every neighborhood is subject to flooding as well as hurricane winds. In response, many homes in the Keys are built on concrete stilts with the first floor being not legally habitable and enclosed by breakaway walls that are not strongly attached to the rest of
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#17328549209346138-400: The islands of the Keys. The Keys are also home to unique animal species, including the American crocodile , Key deer (protected by the National Key Deer Refuge ), and the Key Largo woodrat . The Keys are part of the northernmost range of the American crocodile, which is found throughout the Neotropics . The Key Largo Woodrat is found only in the northern part of its namesake island and is
6237-445: The lagoon that is traditionally called "Biscayne Bay" is approximately 35 miles (56 km) long and up to 8 miles (13 km) wide, with a surface area of 221 square miles (570 km ). Various definitions may include Dumfoundling Bay, Card Sound, and Barnes Sound in a larger "Biscayne Bay", which is 60 miles (97 km) long with a surface area of about 271 square miles (700 km ). Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda related in
6336-436: The lagoon. The lagoon is 8 miles (13 km) across at its widest point. The lagoon, from Dumfoundling Bay to the Arsenicker Keys, has a surface area of about 572 square kilometres (221 sq mi). The larger lagoon, including Card Sound and Barnes Sound, has a surface area of about 703 square kilometres (271 sq mi). It has an average depth of 1.8 metres (5.9 ft) and, except where channels have been dredged ,
6435-579: The limestone, where soil accumulates and trees root. The Florida Keys have distinctive plant and animals species, some found nowhere else in the United States, as the Keys define the northern extent of their ranges. The climate also allows many imported plants to thrive. Some exotic species which arrived as landscape plants now invade and threaten natural areas. The native flora of the Keys is diverse, including members of both temperate families, such as red maple ( Acer rubrum ), slash pine ( Pinus elliottii var. densa ) and oaks ( Quercus spp.), growing at
6534-564: The loss of natural fresh water flow. South Bay is nearly as large as Central Bay, and is defined as extending from the Featherbed Bank to the Arsenicker Keys , or to Cutter Bank, which is to the east of the Arsenicker Keys. (Brown et al. define South Bay as consisting of Card Sound and Barnes Sound.) It is separated from the ocean by the northernmost of the Florida Keys , from Boca Chita Key to Old Rhodes Key . Fresh water sources for South Bay include Black Creek, Goulds Canal, North Canal, Florida City Canal, and Model Land Canal. Tidal exchange with
6633-427: The middle third of the island on the eastern side of Central Bay. Fresh water sources for Central Bay include the Coral Gables Waterway and Snapper Creek . Tidal flow between Central Bay and the ocean is through Bear Cut between Virginia Key and Key Biscayne and across the Safety Valve. The development that has so transformed North Bay has spread over much of the northern shores of Central Bay. Miami Seaquarium and
6732-408: The more exposed vegetation in the keys is scrub , stunted due to the intense sun, quick draining sandy soil, and arid winter climate. The Keys are occasionally threatened by tropical storms and hurricanes , leading to evacuations to the mainland. Hurricane Georges , after destroying much of the housing and infrastructure on many of the Caribbean islands , caused damage and extensive flooding in
6831-410: The mouth of the Miami River, has been proposed to be post holes for a structure. The site was abandoned in about 1200, when the town site north of the river was occupied. Juan Ponce de León visited Biscayne Bay in 1513, and Pedro Menéndez de Avilés did so in 1565. Early accounts by Spanish explorers indicated the existence of one or more inlets somewhere on the long barrier spit then separating
6930-406: The name of the people who lived around the lagoon at the time. The British, during their occupation of Florida (1763–1783), called the lagoon "Cape River", "Dartmouth Sound", and "Sandwich gulph". Biscayne Bay is a semi- or subtropical lagoon extending most of the length of Miami-Dade County , from North Miami Beach to the upper Florida Keys . Biscayne Bay, in the strictest sense, extends from
7029-430: The north to the Featherbed Bank, which runs across the bay from Black Point to Boca Chita Key . It is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by Key Biscayne , the Safety Valve , and the Ragged Keys , the northernmost of the Florida Keys . It is bordered on the western shore by the municipalities of Miami , Coral Gables , Palmetto Bay , Cutler Bay , and a portion of unincorporated Miami-Dade County. Key Biscayne occupies
7128-516: The northern edge of Central Bay. Matheson Hammock Park , the Charles Deering Estate , and Chapman Field Park are on the mainland along the western shore of Central Bay. Black Point Park and Marina and Homestead Bayfront Park are on the mainland on the western shore of South Bay. Black Point, Crandon, Haulover, Homestead Bayfront and Matheson Hammock parks have public marinas . The county also operates Pelican Harbor Marina, which includes
7227-590: The northern end of Biscayne Bay from the ocean (one called "Boca Rattones" appears on the 1770s map by Bernard Romans), but such inlets open and close over time. At the beginning of the 19th century, there was no inlet through the barrier spit between the New River inlet in Fort Lauderdale and Bear Cut, at the south end of what is now Virginia Key . Hurricanes in 1835 and 1838 opened a new inlet, Narrows Cut (now known as Norris Cut), separating Virginia Key from what
7326-573: The ocean is through Baker's Haulover Inlet , Government Cut , and Norris Cut. Northeast 163rd Street , or Sunny Isles Boulevard, connects North Miami Beach and Sunny Isles Beach across the section of the Intracoastal Waterway running between Dumfoundling Bay and Biscayne Bay proper. Five causeways cross North Bay between Northeast 163rd Street and the Rickenbacker Causeway, including: More than 20 islands in North Bay north from
7425-417: The ocean occurs through Sands Cut, Caesar's Creek and Broad Creek. Boca Chita Key, Elliott Key , and Old Rhodes Key were all enlarged by dredging in the first half of the 20th century. Boca Chita Key was the site of some construction in the early 20th century. Mark C. Honeywell bought the key in 1937, and built a large retreat on the island, including a 65-foot (20 m) tall faux lighthouse. South Bay
7524-583: The opening of Government Cut and the Baker's Haulover Inlet during the 20th century increased the salinity of the lagoon. Dredging of the ship channel and turning basin for the Port of Miami and other navigation channels, including the Intracoastal Waterway , has resulted in the build up of artificial islands in the Northern Bay. As of 1981 more than 40% of the area of North Bay had either been dredged or filled to form artificial islands. Seawalls line almost all of
7623-603: The present Miami area to what is now the Dry Tortugas. This reef formed the Key Largo Limestone that is exposed on the surface from Soldier Key (midway between Key Biscayne and Elliott Key) to the southeast portion of Big Pine Key and the Newfound Harbor Keys. The types of coral that formed Key Largo Limestone can be identified on the exposed surface of these keys. Minor fluctuations in sea level exposed parts of
7722-432: The reef, subjecting it to erosion. Acidic water, which can result from decaying vegetation, dissolves limestone. Some of the dissolved limestone redeposited as a denser cap rock , which can be seen as outcrops overlying the Key Largo and Miami limestones throughout the Keys. The limestone that eroded from the reef formed oolites in the shallow sea behind the reef, and together with the skeletal remains of bryozoans , formed
7821-527: The remaining lagoon bottom is barren. Coastal wetlands have been almost eliminated in North Bay. Turbidity is high in North Bay due to erosion from spoil islands and banks, and the lack of vegetation on the lagoon bottom. The spoil islands host large quantities of invasive plant species . North Bay is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by barrier islands . Freshwater sources flowing into North Bay include Oleta River , Arch Creek , Biscayne Canal, Little River and Miami River. Tidal flow between North Bay and
7920-416: The remnants of large coral reefs, which became fossilized and exposed when the sea level dropped. The natural habitats of the Keys are upland forests, inland wetlands and shoreline zones. Soil ranges from sand to marl to rich, decomposed leaf litter . In some places, "caprock" (the eroded surface of coral formations) covers the ground. Rain falling through leaf debris becomes acidic and dissolves holes in
8019-471: The result of the drastic changes in sea level associated with recent glaciations or ice ages . Beginning some 130,000 years ago the Sangamonian Stage raised sea levels about 25 feet (7.6 m) feet above the current level. All of southern Florida was covered by a shallow sea. Several parallel lines of reef formed along the edge of the submerged Florida Platform , stretching south and then west from
8118-412: The shore and on the bottom of the bay. Ralph Munroe noted in the late 19th century that potable water could be pumped from one of those bay bottom springs. Springs can still be found in the bay, but the water from them is now brackish. People lived in the area that is now Biscayne Bay long before the bay was formed. Human bones, teeth, and artifacts that are almost 11,000 years old have been found at
8217-445: The shoreline of North Bay. The bay has been severely affected over the last century by raw sewage releases, urban runoff , shoreline bulkheading , dredging , the creation of artificial islands and the loss of natural fresh water flow into the bay. However, water quality has steadily improved since regular monitoring began in 1979. North Bay accounts for only 10% of the water area of the bay. The first bridge across Biscayne Bay
8316-470: The south of Key Biscayne on the east, and just to the south of Chicken Key, part of the Charles Deering Estate, on the west. The southern part of the preserve includes Card Sound. The preserve includes about 69,000 acres (280 km ) of submerged land owned by the state. The Biscayne Bay-Cape Florida to Monroe County Line Aquatic Preserve was created in 1975. That preserve ran from Cape Florida to
8415-503: The south of Little Card Sound. Manatee Bay is to the west of Barnes Sound. Card Sound and Barnes Sound are bounded on the east by Key Largo . South Biscayne Bay is sometimes defined as including Card Sound and Barnes Sound. Barnes Sound is connected to Florida Bay through a few small channels. Manatee Bay is partially separated from Barnes Sound by Short Key and Main Key. In 1994, it was described as having particularly undisturbed habitat for
8514-423: The southern end of their ranges, and tropical families, including mahogany ( Swietenia mahagoni ), gumbo limbo ( Bursera simaruba ), stoppers ( Eugenia spp.), Jamaican dogwood ( Piscidia piscipula ), and many others, which grow only in tropical climates. Several types of palms are native to the Florida Keys, including the Florida thatch palm ( Thrinax radiata ), which grows to its greatest size in Florida on
8613-550: The two-lane highway to the mainland. Time estimates for evacuating the entire Keys range from 12 to 24 hours. Evacuation estimates are significant in emergency planning, of course, but also because they are a factor in local and state regulations for controlling development. The building permit allocation was increased in 2005 when local governments reduced estimates for evacuation. On September 10, 2017, Hurricane Irma made landfall in Cudjoe Key. The storm destroyed an estimated 25% of
8712-461: The vast majority of tourists drive down from the mainland on U.S. 1. This influx of traffic, coupled with the two-lane nature of U.S. 1 through most of its length in the Keys, and the fact that no alternative road routes are available mean that Monroe County has the highest per capita rate of fatal automobile accidents in the state of Florida. The major industries are fishing and tourism, including ecotourism , with many visitors scuba diving in
8811-514: The waters out to 300 feet surrounding those islands, are closed to all entry by the public to protect the nesting sites. The Upper Arsnicker Keys ( 25°33′19″N 80°29′38″W / 25.5553°N 80.4940°W / 25.5553; -80.4940 ) are a group of islands in Florida Bay , in Monroe County , seven miles north of Long Key in the Florida Keys . The island group was known as
8910-461: The waterways have saltwater intrusion control structures, which restrict the flow of saltwater inland, and regulate the flow of fresh water into the lagoon. Some fresh water enters the lagoon as groundwater flow from the Biscayne Aquifer . All of the bedrock under the lagoon west of the ancient reef, and the adjacent mainland, consists of Miami Limestone , an oolitic limestone that formed in
9009-567: The wider sense) that is not in Biscayne National Park. The preserve was created by the Florida Legislature in 1974, and then included all of Biscayne Bay from the Oleta River to the southern end of Card Sound. The preserve was split into two parts when the Biscayne National Monument became Biscayne National Park. The northern part extends from the headwaters of the Oleta River to the northern boundary of Biscayne National Park, just to
9108-555: Was 77,136. The 2020 Census population estimate was 82,874. The city of Key West is the county seat of Monroe County . The county consists of a section on the mainland which is almost entirely in Everglades National Park , and the Keys islands from Key Largo to Dry Tortugas National Park . The Keys were originally inhabited by the Calusa and Tequesta tribes and were charted by Juan Ponce de León in 1513. De León named
9207-497: Was built in 1959. Other causeways are the John F. Kennedy (79th Street) and Broad causeways (connecting the Miami mainland), and the Rickenbacker Causeway (connecting Miami to Key Biscayne). The Card Sound Bridge connects the mainland in the Homestead, Florida area to the northern part of Key Largo . Most of Central Bay and almost all of South Bay, as well as the Safety Valve and
9306-486: Was moved there from the mainland north of Bayfront Park. The Miami Marine Stadium was built on the north side of the Rickenbacker Causeway extending from the east side of Virginia Key in the early 1960s. There are also many undeveloped spoil islands in North Bay, such as Sandspur Island and the Picnic Islands . Central Bay is the largest part of the bay. It extends from the Rickenbacker Causeway and Virginia Key on
9405-463: Was not rebuilt following the Labor Day hurricane of 1935 . Even before the hurricane, road sections and highway bridges allowed automobile traffic to travel from Miami to Lower Matecumbe Key, where a car ferry connected with another roadway section through the Lower Keys. Following the hurricane, some of the original railway bridges were converted to carry the highway roadbeds. These bridges were used until
9504-466: Was partially completed in 1913. The bridge was "hailed as the longest wooden vehicle bridge in the world, and opened up the area as a luxury winter resort and playground." The bridge terminated at the Dixie Highway, built by Carl G. Fisher . The bridge was a toll bridge ; in 1920, the toll was reduced from 20 cents each way (for two-seat cars) to 15 cents one way (and 25 cents round-trip). The bridge
9603-554: Was sold to the Biscayne Bay Improvement Association, which developed five artificial islands that became known as the Venetian Islands : Biscayne and San Marco in Miami, San Marino , Di Lido , and Rivo Alto in Miami Beach. The bridge was torn down in 1925 and replaced with the "more substantial" Venetian Causeway the next year. The Lummus brothers lobbied for the county commission's support for
9702-529: Was the 2.5-mile (4.0 km) wooden Collins Bridge built in 1912 by John S. Collins and his son-in-law Thomas Pancoast, who formed the Miami Beach Improvement Corporation; financing was provided by Carl G. Fisher and the Miami banker brothers John N. Lummus and James E. Lummus. Construction began on July 22, 1912. Although the cost of the project was initially $ 75,000, the construction project faced delays and cost overruns. The bridge
9801-411: Was unable to secure a $ 17 million loan through the state infrastructure bank, delaying work for at least a year. On June 14, 2008, the old bridge section leading to Pigeon Key was closed to fishing as well. While still open to pedestrians—walking, biking and jogging—if the bridge were closed altogether, only a ferry subsidized by FDOT and managed by the county would transport visitors to the island. After
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