FLORIDA KEYS INTERNET GUIDE

KEYS FACTS

Airports
There are two airports with commercial flights located in the Keys, one on Marathon near mile marker 50 and the other in Key West.

Area Code

The area code for all of the Florida Keys is 305.

Artificial Reefs

From 1981 to present, the waters off of the Florida Keys have established some 23 artificial reefs. These range from a 2600-ton United States Coast Guard Cutter to the 80-ton wood shrimp boat the "Papa Joe". These man made reefs become home to many hard and soft corals, tropical fish and other marine life.

Boca Chica Naval Air Station

Since 1941 the Naval Air Station has taken up most of this Key. The Navy selected this location because the weather conditions for flying are better in the Keys than in any other part of the Nation.

Bridges

There are 42 bridges connecting the chain of Florida Keys. The longest is the famous 7-mile bridge, which is 35,716 feet long. The shortest is Harris Gap at only 37 feet long. 15% of travel time in the Keys is spent on bridges.

Highest Elevation in the Keys

Windley Key, 18 feet above sea level, is the highest elevation in the Florida Keys.

Population

Monroe County, Florida Keys Population from Key Largo to Key West is approximately 79,978

Queen Conch

The capture of a Queen Conch within the Florida Keys waters is prohibited. Although the conch shell use to be used as a means of communication and conch meat harvested locally, our conch now comes from the waters off of the Bahamas.

Reefs

North America’s only living coral reef ecosystem is located just a few miles offshore the Florida Keys.

Sea Turtles

Loggerhead turtles are the most common sea turtle found in Florida Keys waters. Most of the sea turtle nesting within the Continental United States occurs in Florida.

U.S. Highway 1

Also known as the Overseas highway, was completed in 1938 from Key Largo to Key West. Today U.S. highway 1 runs from Fort Kent, Maine to Key West, Florida.