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Biscayne National Park
9700 SW 328 Street, Homestead, FL 33033-5634; 305-230-7275;

The park, located on Florida's southern Atlantic coast, was established as a national monument in 1968. In 1980 it was enlarged to 181,500 acres and designated as a national park. It is a subtropical place where mainland mangrove shoreline, a warm shallow bay, many small islands or keys and living coral reefs intermingle.

This park contains approximately 181,500 acres, 95 % is under water, so It contains well-sheltered section of Biscayne Bay, about 45 low islands, called "keys," and about 20 miles of mainland mangrove shoreline.

The earliest known residents of the area were the Tequesta Indians who lived by fishing and hunting for sea turtles, sharks, sailfish, stingrays, and sea mammals.

Park Website - National Park Service
Reef Environmental Education Foundation - Great Annual Fish Count
Park Traveler - Underwater Explorers
Village of Key Biscayne - City Services

Recreation:

Recreational activities include: boating, canoeing, diving, fishing, sailing, snorkeling, swimming, water skiing and camping.
Campgrounds - One campground is located on Boca Chita Key and the other is on Elliott Key. These campgrounds are open year round. Access is only by boat.
Backcountry Camping - Only allowed on Elliot Key. You need to pick up a free permit at headquarters.
Boating - Boating is the perfect way to explore Biscayne National Park where you can enjoy the protected waters of Biscayne Bay and visit and explore the beautiful living coral reefs.
Fishing - Fishing for grouper and snapper is popular along the reefs. Big game includes marlin, kingfish and sailfish.

Wildlife:

Brilliantly colorful tropical fish and other curious creatures populate the park's coral reefs. Their appearances and behavior are as s their names--stoplight parrotfish, finger garlic sponge, goosehead scorpionfish, princess venus, peppermint goby.

The mangrove forest appears as a nearly impenetrable fortress. Roots of the red mangrove arch stilt like out of the water and grow down into the water from overhead branches.

Large colonies of brown pelican, white ibis, little blue herons, snowy egrets, and other wading birds nest seasonally in the protected refuge of the park.

Note: Possession, disturbance, or removal of corals, sea fans, sea feathers, tropical fish, shells, historical artifacts and other natural features is prohibited.