John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Underwater state park in Key Largo, United States.
Description
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is an underwater protected area in the Atlantic Ocean off Key Largo in the Florida Keys, stretching across several square miles. The grounds include coral reefs, mangrove forests and tropical vegetation on land, along with wide marine zones featuring seagrass meadows.
History
The area was established in 1963 as the first underwater state park in the United States to protect the coral reefs from further destruction. In 1972, the site received National Register of Historic Places status for its role in marine conservation.
Culture
The name honors John Pennekamp, a Miami journalist who championed protection of the coral reefs off the Keys. Visitors can observe the underwater world through glass-bottom boats, while divers and snorkelers move directly among the reefs themselves.
Practical
Anyone wanting to snorkel or dive should arrive early in the morning, when the water is clearest and boats are not yet crowded. The trails through the mangroves suit beginners in kayaks as well, since the water usually stays calm.
Did you know?
Below the surface stands a bronze statue of Christ, roughly 8.5 feet (2.6 meters) tall, resting at a depth of around 25 feet (7.6 meters). Snorkelers and divers often swim around the figure, which appears to float among the coral formations.
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