Bahia Honda Key: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article

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Bahia Honda Key

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	Topics Bahia Honda Key Topic Home Bahia Honda (meaning deep bay, in SpanishSpanish language Spanish or Castilian is an Iberian Romance language.... , locally pronounced: BAY-ah HON-da, also pronounced: BAH-ee-ah OWN-dah), is an island in the lower Florida KeysFlorida Keys The Florida Keys is an archipelago, a string of about 1700 islands in the southeast United States.... . U.S. Route 1U.S. Route 1 rticle_route=1\|map=US-1-map.png\|type=Main\|... (the Overseas HighwayOverseas Highway The Overseas Highway carries U.S. Route 1 through the Florida Keys.... ) crosses the key at approximately mile markers 36-38.5, between Ohio KeyOhio Key Summary Ohio Key is an island in the lower Florida Keys.... and Spanish Harbor KeySpanish Harbor Key Spanish Harbor Key is an island in the lower Florida Keys.... 12 miles (19 km) west of MarathonMarathon, Florida Marathon is a city on Key Vaca, Grassy Key, Fat Deer Key, and Boot Key islands in the middle Florida Keys, in Monroe County,... , close to the west end of the Seven Mile BridgeSeven Mile Bridge The Seven Mile Bridge, in the Florida Keys, runs over a channel between the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Strait, connectin... . The island is virtually uninhabited, being home to 524-acre (2.1 km²) Bahia Honda State Park. Founded in 1961, the park occupies most of the island. The channel at the island's west end is one of the deepest natural channels in the Florida Keys. Fauna Marine life is quite plentiful in the waters surrounding the island. Just off the beach snorkelers can spot many species of small reef fish, as well as rays, barracuda, and even the occasional small nurse sharkNurse shark The nurse shark, Ginglymostoma cirratum, is a shark in the nurse sharks family, the only member of its genus Gingly... . The only known natural colony of the now rare Miami blueMiami blue Summary The Miami blue is a small butterfly native to coastal areas of southern Florida.... butterfly was discovered in the park in 1999. The butterfly had been thought to have become extinct as a result of Hurricane AndrewHurricane Andrew Hurricane Andrew was the second most destructive hurricane in U.S.... in 1992. Flora Several rare plants, including yellow satinwoodZanthoxylum *Zanthoxylum* is a genus of about 250 species of deciduous and evergreen trees and shrubs in the family Rutaceae, native t... , silver palm (CoccothrinaxCoccothrinax *Coccothrinax* is a genus of palms in the Arecaceae family.... argentata), key thatch palmThatch palm The name Thatch palm is applied to several different species of palm trees in the genera Coccothrinax, Howea and Thrinax.... (ThrinaxThrinax *Thrinax* is a genus in the palm family, native to the wider Caribbean.... morrisii), and the endangered small-flowered lily thorn (Catesbaea parviflora) are found in the park. History Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast RailwayFlorida East Coast Railway The Florida East Coast Railway is a Class II railroad operating in the U.S.... once ran through the present parkland to Key West. Built between 1905 and 1912, it was destroyed by the severe Labor Day Hurricane of 1935Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 The Labor Day Hurricane was a very compact, intense hurricane that formed in the North Atlantic during August 1935.... . Later, the railroad bridge foundations were used to build the Overseas HighwayOverseas Highway The Overseas Highway carries U.S. Route 1 through the Florida Keys.... , which became U.S. Route 1Facts About U.S. Route 1 rticle_route=1\|map=US-1-map.png\|type=Main\|... . Part of the old Bahia Honda Bridge is accessible from the park, and offers a panoramic view of the islands. In 1908, the Florida East Coast Railway Company built two large two-story dormitories there to house workers building the Bahia Honda Bridge. Recreational activities The 2.5 mile (4 km) natural, white sand beachBeach A beach or strand is a geological formation consisting of loose rock particles such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles,... was at one time named the best in the continental United StatesUnited States Overview The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., and America, is... , making it popular for swimmingSwimming Swimming is a technique that humans, and other animals, use to move through water using only movements of the body.... . A nature trail near the park’s oceanside beach skirts a tidal lagoonLagoon This article is about natural lagoons.... before passing through a coastal hammockHammock (ecology) Overview Hammocks are dense stands of hardwood trees that grow on natural rises of only a few inches in the land.... . Bicycling and inline skating can be done on the park’s 3.5 mile (5.6 km) paved road, and there are several fishingFishing Fishing is the activity of hunting for fish.... and picnicPicnic In contemporary usage, picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors, ideally, taki... king spots in the area. KayakKayak A kayak is a small human-powered boat.... s and snorkelingSnorkeling Snorkeling is the practice of swimming at the surface of a body of water while equipped with a diving mask, a shaped tube ca... gear can be rented at the park, and boat trips for snorkeling on the reef are available. The park has a marinaMarina Overview ----A marina is a port within a well-sheltered harbour where boats and yachts are kept in the water and where basic service... with boat slips available for overnight rental. Campsites (primitive and full hook-up) and vacation cabins are available, although reservations for the winter months can be very difficult to get. The park is also a part of the Great Florida Birding TrailGreat Florida Birding Trail The 2000 milelong Great Florida Birding Trail is a collection of more than 400 locations in the U.S.... . Hours