32 Biscayne National Park Facts: Here's All You Need To Know About It!

Did you know that there is a watery wonderland in Florida?

The watery wonderland in Florida is known as Biscayne National Park. This American national park not only preserves Biscayne Bay, which is named after the Bay of Biscay, a gulf on the northern coast of Spain and the western coast of France but also preserves offshore barrier coral reefs.

Biscayne National Park, established in the '80s, preserves some of the country's most unusual barrier islands, coral reefs, and crystal blue waterways. There is no shortage of essential marine species living inside the park, from endangered Florida manatees to sea urchins and dolphins.

Visiting Biscayne National Park is the perfect way to relax your soul in the midst of the sea and enjoy the sea life. The park is open all year round. There is always something to do, no matter the season.

This park is open all year long! You must take this chance to experience the northernmost Florida Keys.

Read on to know more about the Biscayne National Park, which is governed by the National Park Service!

Biscayne National Park Location

The location of the Biscayne National Park makes this national park even more beautiful and unique. Here are some facts about the location of Biscayne National Park.

Biscayne National Park, the watery wonderland, is found in South Florida, in the south of Miami. It's tough to believe you're so near to lively Miami when you arrive at Biscayne National Park, with its broad mangrove woodlands and tranquil oceans.

This national park is the largest marine park out of all the United States National Parks. It covers 270.3 sq mi (700.0 sq km) of area. Only 5% area of the Park is accessible via land.

Water covers 95% of the Park; hence, the name 'watery wonderland.' The Dante Fascall visitor center is the only area of the park accessible by car. The rest of the area is accessible by boat.

The park is near to the city of Homestead, and the large metropolitan hub of Miami is roughly 30 minutes north.

In Biscayne, the Atlantic Ocean has the lowest elevation, which is 0 yd (0 m). On the other hand, Totten Key has the greatest elevation at 3 yd (2.7432 m).

Although you can go to this park at any time of the year, December and April are ideal for visiting this park.

Due to its location, winters will be dry and humid, with temperatures averaging a pleasant 60 F (15 C). You can expect summers to be full of humidity and thunderstorms in the afternoons. The hurricane season lasts from June to November, so check the weather before heading out on the ocean.

The only place where you can stay during your visit are camping grounds, but they are only accessible via boats. You can talk to the park's concessioner to make arrangements for the same.

You can find a hotel, but it is nowhere near the park. If you want to stay in a hotel, then the nearest hotel is in Florida City and Homestead.

History Of Biscayne National Park

Dive into the following historical facts about the Biscayne National Park, which is the largest marine park under the National Park System in the United States.

Permanent inhabitants didn't arrive in Miami until the 19th century. The first settlements in the Biscayne Bay area were small farms on Elliott Key. They used to cultivate crops. The largest lime producers in Florida's east coast were the Jones until Israel Jones died in the early '30s.

The park area was used as a training venue for Cuban exiles during the Cold War. In the early '60s, the Central Intelligence Agency utilized Elliott Key as a training field in preparation.

When a party of Cuban exiles attempted to use the key for a pretend landing in the late '80s, they were imprisoned. The exiled Venezuelan president, Marcos Pérez Jiménez, had a residence on Soldier Key until his extradition in the mid-'60s.

It was initially suggested to include the Biscayne Bay in the construction of Everglades National Park, but it was withdrawn to assure the park's formation.

The region was not fully developed until the '60s when a succession of plans was made to develop the keys in the style of Miami Beach, including a deepwater dock for bulk cargo, as well as refinery and petrochemical establishments on Biscayne Bay's mainland coast.

Two fossil-fueled power stations and two nuclear power plants were built on the bay coastlines back in the '60s and '70s.

Biscayne National Monument was established in 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson in response to a protest against the development. In the same year, the United States Congress established Biscayne National Park.

Different people had different ideas for what was to be done with the area that is now Biscayne National Park. This national park in Miami-Dade County was finally established as a national park on June 28, 1980, after extensive negotiations and litigations by Dante Fascall.

Activities Within Biscayne National Park

Now, look at all the activities you can do within one of the most amazing national parks!

You will need private, or concessioner boats when you go to this park to appreciate the natural environment as 95% of this national park's area is water.

Some recreational activities that you can do in the sea are canoe trips, fishing, scuba diving, windsurfing, snorkeling, and kayaking in the shallow waters. 

Private concessionaires and approved park tour operators must have access to all sites. Jet skis and other types of personal watercraft are not permitted.

The fishermen must have a Florida city recreational saltwater fishing license.

On land, you can go hiking, camping, and watching the wildlife in the park. You can even dive deep into the culture!

If you are not much of an outdoorsy person, then you can enjoy the Dante Fascell Visitor Center; it has a gallery and a museum.

With displays, music, and video, the museum emphasizes the park's four ecosystems.

Several films showcase different parts of the park and provide visitors with an overview of its attractions.

In the gallery, contemporary artists display their own that was inspired by the park.

The place even has something for the kids! The kids can go snorkeling, canoeing in the Mangrove forests, and poking along the shoreline swamps. Did you know that the Mangrove forest is the longest one on the east coast of Florida?

The Dante Fascell Visitor Center also educates kids. They can even begin their journey to become junior rangers by joining the Junior Ranger Program!

The Wildlife Of Biscayne National Park

Wildlife preservation is becoming highly essential as the number of endangered species in the world continues to rise. Biscayne National Park is one of those national parks that continues to work towards making the place better for the wildlife in the park. Here are some facts about the wildlife of Biscayne National Park.

You can find four ecosystems, namely the Shallow Waters of Biscayne Bay, the Coral Limestone Keys, the offshore Florida Reef, and the Shoreline Mangrove Swamp, in the Biscayne National Park. These four ecosystems are under the protection of the park. It protects many endangered species.

The park is home to a minimum of 600 species of native fish along with neo-tropical water birds, marine mammals, insects, and soft corals. You can wander the waters of Biscayne National park to see the marine life!

Larval and young fish, mollusks, and crustaceans use the coastal marshes of the mainland and island edges as a nursery.

You can find tropical vegetation in the coral limestone keys. It includes endangered cacti and palms. You may even run into a non-venomous snake, the eastern indigo snake.

Did you know that the beaches of the keys are the nesting grounds for endangered sea turtles?