The reefs here are communities of hard and soft corals living in shallow stretches of water. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is a protected paradise for all kinds of marine life. Marine Life at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park True to its name, a variety of corals are found in the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Sea ox-eye daisy ( Borrichia arborescens ).White mangrove ( Laguncularia racemosa).Saffron plum ( Sideroxylon salicifolium).Here is a quick list of just some of the plants that often grow on the coastal berms of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park: You might also come across mangrove trees, joewood, buttonwood, and sea ox-eye daisy near the seashore. Short shrubs and herbs such as spider lilies, rouge berries, and limber caper also grow on these coastal berms. You can find tall shrubs and short trees like the Spanish stopper, saffron plum, hog plum, and white indigo berry here. They range from 1 to 10 feet tall and offer an up-close look at a variety of tropical plants and trees. These storm-deposited ridges of sediment are made up of different things like shell fragments and pieces of coralline algae. Plant Life at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park features several pockets of mangrove trees.Īlong the coast of Key Largo, you can explore many coastal berms. However, scuba tours can reach further out and venture into depths around 30 to 45 feet. Closer to the coast, the water is shallow and averages a depth of just 5 to 15 feet. The marine sanctuary spans up to 70 nautical square miles of ocean. The park boasts large mangrove swamps and lush tropical hammocks along 25 miles of stunning coastline and reaches 3 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park encompasses part of the island on land and the ocean beyond it. Key Largo is the largest island in the Florida Keys, measuring 33 miles long. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park at Key Largo Today Key Largo claims the title of the “Diving Capital of the World” due to these beautiful coral reefs. Later, the governor of Florida changed the name to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park to honor Pennekamp’s role in protecting the reef here. Eisenhower designated a section of Key Largo - the largest island in the Florida Keys - as the Key Largo Coral Reef Preserve. Sometimes they even used dynamite! The coral reefs in the Florida Keys took thousands of years to form, and yet over just a few decades, they were disappearing at an alarming rate.įortunately, John Pennekamp, an editor with the Miami Herald, fought to legally protect these beautiful underwater ecosystems. Tourists and tourism companies frequently chiseled out corals from the coral reef, along with seashells, sponges, and even seahorses, to sell and take home as souvenirs. It is the third largest coral reef in the entire world! Unfortunately, as people visited these beautiful islands from the 1900s to the 1950s, the reefs experienced great damage. This unique archipelago is also the home of the only living coral reef in the continental U.S. Off the coast of Florida are over 200 small islands known as the Florida Keys. also has a hidden state park off the largest island in the Florida Keys - and it’s underwater? That’s right, folks, you can actually visit an UNDERWATER state park! How cool is that? There is plenty to see and do, so let’s get right to it and discover John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park! The First Underwater Park in the United States The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park includes 3 miles of the Atlantic Ocean. The United States is filled with many extraordinary natural parks with jaw-dropping landscapes and unique wildlife of all kinds. ↓ Continue Reading To See This Amazing Video
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