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Coral Reefs in The
Florida Keys
Florida's coral
reefs came into existence 5,000 to 7,000 years ago when sea levels rose
following the Wisconsin Ice Age.The Florida reef tract is the most extensive
living coral reef system in North American waters and the third largest system
in the world.
The tropical setting
in Florida's reefs attracts millions of visitors annually. In order to minimize
human damage to the corals, everyone's cooperation is needed. The reefs are well
marked on navigation charts; if you are not familiar with the area, refer to the
charts.
When diving or
snorkeling, look, but do not touch! Do not grasp, stand or sit on living coral.
You may damage the coral and hurt yourself in the process. All coral is
protected. It is against the law to collect, harvest or sell Florida corals in
state and adjacent federal waters.
Imagery
of Florida Coral Reefs -Department
of Marine Science, University of South Florida
"Pollution,
over fishing,
and overuse have put many of our unique reefs at risk. Their disappearance would
destroy the habitat of countless species.
It would unravel the web of
marine life that holds the potential for new chemicals, new medicines, unlocking
new mysteries. It would have a devastating effect on the coastal communities
from Cairns to Key West, Florida - communities whose livelihood depends upon the
reefs."
-Bill Clinton,
Former President of the United States
Spanish
hogfish at reef
Credit:
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
North America's only
living coral barrier reef lies approximately six miles seaward of the Florida
Keys in water that are typically fifteen to thirty feet deep. The reef tract
starts near Miami and extends southwest to the Dry Tortugas, about sixty-seven
miles west of Key West. Patch reefs continue up through the Palm Beaches.
Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA,
Johnson Space Center
The
great coral reefs of the Florida Keys are the only true coral reefs in the
continental waters of the United States.
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Sponge,
coral, and searod
Credit:
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary |
Reef
scene with sea rods Photographer:
Mike White
Credit:
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary |
The Florida reef tract, composed of
outer reefs and patch reefs, contains over fifty species of corals comprising
over eighty percent of all the coral reef species in the Tropical Western
Atlantic and over one hundred fifty species of fish.
Image by Scientific Visualization Studio, NASA
Goddard Space Flight Center; data courtesy Landsat Project
The Florida Keys
hosts several million snorkelers, divers, fisherman and boaters every year. So
many people have become captivated by coral reefs that Florida is the number one
dive destination in the world with ten times the number of the second highest
rated diving area, Australia, an area of reef ten times larger. The coral reef
is being destroyed by the sheer numbers of visitors.
A
Landsat-7 image of a coral reef near Key Largo, Florida. Credit: NASA/GSFC
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New
NOAA Maps Show Big Island Has Most Live Coral of Main Hawaiian Islands-Click
Here
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Bleaching
on the Great Barrier Reef-Click Here
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NASA
Helps Researchers Diagnose Recent Coral Bleaching at Great Barrier Reef-Click
Here
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Acid
Oceans Warning -Click Here
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Major
international study warns global warming is destroying coral reefs-Click
Here
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Call
For Climate Action To Save Coral Reefs-Click Here
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President
Bush Establishes Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument-Click
here
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Caribbean
Coral Reefs first mass die off of coral in over 3,000 years images and
story click here
For More
Information Click On the Logo Below
Credit: University of South
Florida, NOAA, NASA The State of Florida
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