The Florida Reef (also known as the Great Florida Reef, Florida reefs, Florida Reef Tract and Florida Keys Reef Tract) is the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States.[1] It lies a few miles seaward of the Florida Keys, is about 4 miles (6 to 7 km) wide and extends along the 20-metre (66 ft) depth contour 270 km (146 nmi; 168 mi) from Fowey Rocks just east of Soldier Key to just south of the Marquesas Keys. The system encompasses more than 6,000 individual reefs. Florida waters are home to over 500 marine fish and mammal species along with more than 45 species of stony corals and 35 species of octocorals.[2]
- ^ The biggest coral reef in the continental U.S. is dissolving into the ocean Accessed May 6, 2016
- ^ "Florida's Coral Reef | Florida Department of Environmental Protection". floridadep.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-15.