Additional Information for John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

Area Geography

The park contains a wide variety of tropical vegetation, shore birds and marine life. And while the mangrove swamps and tropical hammocks offer visitors a unique and interesting experience, it is the coral formations and associated marine life that most park visitors come to enjoy. The coral reefs at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park are among the most beautiful and diverse of all living communities.

Resources

Coral reefs are living underwater communities which provide food, shelter and breeding areas for many marine plants and animals. These reefs occur only in shallow oceans having clear, warm waters. It has been estimated that Florida’s coral reefs have taken 5,000 to 7,000 years to develop. Corals are made up of tiny animals called polyps. Stony corals, such as star and brain coral, secrete a limestone skeleton around their bodies. These skeletons remain after death and provide the foundation for new polyp growth. The building process of stony corals makes up the massive framework of the reef. Octocorals, such as sea fans and sea plumes, don’t form hard skeletons. Instead, they are flexible and sway gracefully in the ocean current feeding on plankton. Like the tropical rain forest, the coral reef community is extremely diverse. Living among the corals are sponges, shrimps, crabs, turtles, lobsters and nearly 600 species of fish. Touching or standing on corals may kill them and is therefore prohibited.

Pets

Please see our General Parks Pet Policy for more information.

Links

Florida Division of Recreation and Parks neither endorses links nor approves of links to external sources. External links are made available to assist the Internet user in his or her search. The Florida Division of Recreation and Parks takes no responsibility a link's operation or content. The links that are shown are not an exclusive listing of organizations available within the State.

• Adjacent and Nearby Public Conservation Areas:

  • Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/welcome.html
  • Everglades National Park : http://www.nps.gov/ever/
  • Biscayne National Park : http://www.nps.gov/bisc/
  • Biscayne Bay  Aquatic Preserve: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/biscayne/info.htm/
  • Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge: http://www.fws.gov/southeast/CrocodileLake/
  • The Nature Conservancy of the Florida Keys: http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/florida/preserves/
  • National Key Deer Refuge: http://www.fws.gov/nationalkeydeer/

  Birds

  • Tropical Audubon Society: http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/index.html
  • Miami Bird Board: http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/tasboard/
  • Florida Ornithological Society: http://www.fosbirds.org/index.html
  • Report Unusual Bird Sightings: http://www.fosbirds.org/forms/FOSReportForm.htm
  • Audubon Bird Links: http://www.tropicalaudubon.org/bird_links.html

  Boating/Paddling

  • Florida FWC Boating Safety: http://myfwc.com/boating/safety/
  • Paradise Paddlers Club: www.kayakfloridakeys.com/PP/ppclub.htm
  • Visitor Service Provider: Coral Reef Park Company (Pennekamp Only): www.pennekamppark.com

  Botanical

  • Florida Native Plant Society: http://www.fnps.org/
  • Dade (and Florida Keys) Chapter of Florida Native Plant Society:  http://dade.fnpschapters.org/
  • Institute For Regional Conservation: http://www.regionalconservation.org/
  • Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council: http://www.fleppc.org/
  • Natives for Your Neighborhood: www.regionalconservation.org/beta/nfyn/default.asp
  • Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden : http://www.fairchildgarden.org/
  • Montgomery Foundation:  http://www.montgomerybotanical.org/
  • The Miami-Dade Fruit and Spice Park: http://www.miamidade.gov/parks/Parks/fruit_spice.asp

  Butterflies

  • North American Butterfly Association: http://www.naba.org/
  • NABA’s local Miami Blue Chapter: http://www.miamiblue.org/

  Diving

  • Coral Reef Park Company (Pennekamp only):www.pennekamppark.com
  • Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/welcome.html

  Fishing

  • Regulations: http://myfwc.com/

  Local Information

  • Monroe County : http://www.monroecounty-fl.gov/Pages/index
  • Monroe County Tourist Development Council: www.fla-keys.com
  • Florida Keys History: www.keyshistory.org/
  • Key Largo Aerial: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Key+Largo+Fl&t=k
  • Key Largo Chamber of Commerce : www.keylargochamber.org

  Local Newspapers

  • Upper Keys Reporter: http://www.upperkeysreporter.com/
  • Free Press: http://www.keysnews.com/
  • Local TV Broadcast: http://wtvj.nbcweatherplus.com/wxplocal/index.html

  Park Services

  • Visitor Service Provider: Coral Reef Park Company (Pennekamp Only): www.pennekamppark.com
  • DEP Park Patrol: www.dep.state.fl.us/law/FPP/default.htm

  Weather

  • Molasses Reef, Key Largo: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=mlrf1
  • Weather Underground: http://www.wunderground.com/US/FL/Key_Largo.html
  • NBC6: http://wtvj.nbcweatherplus.com/wxplocal/index.html
  • National Hurricane Center : http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

  Wildlife

  • Wildlife Rules and Regulations: http://myfwc.com/
  • Florida Natural Areas Inventory: http://www.fnai.org/fieldguide/