The chain of small islands that dot the southern landscape of the state of Florida is called the Florida Keys. These islands are called keys after the Spanish word cayo, meaning “rock” or “islet.”

Geography

Made up of about 60 islands, the Florida Keys form a crescent shape. They curve southwesterly for about 192 miles (309 kilometers) into the Gulf of Mexico from Miami Beach to Key West. The city of Key West is the southernmost city in the United States, excluding Hawaii. The island of Key West is 3¹/₂ miles (5.6 kilometers) long and 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) wide. The largest of the keys is Key Largo—about 30 miles (48 kilometers) long and less than 2 miles (3 kilometers) wide. It is known for its lime plantations.

The eastern end of the chain is a remnant of an old coral reef. Living corals continue to build reefs in the area. The western keys are made of limestone.

Plants and animals

Mangrove thickets line the shores and cover some of the low islands. Tropical hardwoods and palms dominate the higher ground. More than 600 varieties of fish are found in the waters of the keys. The 7,700-acre (3,116-hectare) Big Pine Key, the largest of the lower keys, is a refuge for the tiny key deer and has unusual displays of cacti. The northern shores of the lower keys have been designated the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge.

Places of interest

The John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, in the Atlantic waters off Key Largo, contains the largest living coral formations in North America. It is the first undersea park in the United States. Bahia Honda State Park, on Bahia Honda Key, has 77 acres (31 hectares) of tropical palms and beach recreation facilities.

Islamorada, on Upper Matecumbe Key, has a monument to World War I veterans and victims of the 1935 Florida hurricane. The largest town of the middle keys is Marathon, which has many resorts. Nearby are the Southeast Museum of the North American Indian and a porpoise-training school.

Economy and transportation

Settlements have sprung up on some of the larger keys. In the early part of the 20th century Key West became an important port for trade with the Caribbean islands. Cuban cigar makers built a prosperous industry in the latter half of the 19th century.

Today the tourist trade, the naval air station, and fishing provide the greatest employment. Hotels, motels, and other tourist facilities have been built. Little agriculture takes place on the keys because of the thin soil.

Fishing resorts are bases for deep-sea fishing. Shrimp are caught in the Gulf of Mexico. Giant sea crayfish are sold as “Florida lobsters.” A cannery turns sea turtles into green turtle soup. The Biscayne Bay area and the Florida Keys are now primary areas for sponge fishing.

Since 1938 the Overseas Highway has linked Key West to Miami, 155 miles (249 kilometers) away. It is the longest overwater road in the world, with 42 bridges.

History

Key West is the most important island in the chain. Its history is a tale of adventures, full of pirates and sunken ships. Pirate ships hid in the passes and waterways between the keys. The offshore reefs still hold these wrecks from long ago sea battles. During World Wars I and II naval and air bases were established at Key West to guard the Gulf of Mexico.