Biscayne National Park is located in southern Florida, south of Miami and preserves Biscayne Bay and its offshore barrier reefs. Ninety-five percent of the park is water, and the shore of the bay is the location of an extensive mangrove forest. The park includes Elliott Key, the park's largest island and first of the true Florida Keys, formed from fossilized coral reef. The offshore portion of the park includes the northernmost region of the Florida Reef, one of the largest coral reefs in the world.
Biscayne Ntional Park protects four distinct ecosystems: the shoreline mangrove swamp, the shallow waters of Biscayne Bay, the coral limestone keys and the offshore Florida Reef. The park protects larval and juvenile fish, molluscs and crustaceans. The bay waters protect fish, seagrass beds, sponges, soft corals, and manatees. The keys are covered with tropical vegetation including cacti and palms. Offshore waters and the reefs protect more than two hundred species of fish, birds, whales and hard corals. The park also protects endangered species like the smalltooth sawfish, manatees, and sea turtles. Biscayne also has a small population of threatened American crocodiles and a few American alligators as well.
Biscayne National Park protects four distinct ecosystems: the shoreline mangrove swamp, the shallow waters of Biscayne Bay, the coral limestone keys and the offshore Florida Reef. The park protects larval and juvenile fish, molluscs and crustaceans. The bay waters protect fish, seagrass beds, sponges, soft corals, and manatees. The keys are covered with tropical vegetation including cacti and palms. Offshore waters and the reefs protect more than two hundred species of fish, birds, whales and hard corals. The park also protects endangered species like the smalltooth sawfish, manatees, and sea turtles. Biscayne also has a small population of threatened American crocodiles and a few American alligators as well.
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