Anclote Key Preserve State Park, State park on barrier islands near Tarpon Springs, United States.
Anclote Key Preserve State Park is a protected area made up of four barrier islands off the coast of Tarpon Springs, in the Gulf of Mexico. The islands have sandy beaches, salt marshes, and shallow coastal waters, with no roads or permanent facilities.
Anclote Key was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on 11 December 1978 under reference number 78000946, the listing covering the island and its 1887 lighthouse at the southern end of the key. The lighthouse was built to guide ships along the Gulf coast off Tarpon Springs.
The park serves as a habitat where various bird species can be observed in their natural setting, including osprey and bald eagles. The islands support dozens of different birds throughout the year, especially during nesting and migration seasons.
The islands have no bridge connection, so reaching them requires a private boat or a ferry departing from Tarpon Springs. Wind and water conditions on the Gulf can change quickly, so planning around the weather makes the trip more manageable.
The 1887 lighthouse stands at the southern end of Anclote Key, in Pinellas County, while the rest of the key reaches into Pasco County. The preserve also takes in Three Rooker Island to the south, a beach-nesting bird sanctuary on the Gulf Coast. The whole site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on 11 December 1978.
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