Bird's eye view of the park

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1938 as a haven
for great white herons, migratory birds, and other wildlife. The refuge is
located in the lower Florida Keys and consists of almost 200,000 acres of open
water and islands that are north of the primary Keys from Marathon to Key
West. The islands account for approximately 7,600 acres and are primarily
mangroves with some of the larger islands containing pine rockland and
tropical hardwood hammock habitats. This vast wilderness area, known locally
as the backcountry,э? provides critical nesting, feeding, and resting areas
for more than 250 species of birds. Great white herons are a white color-phase
of great blue herons and are only found in the Florida Keys. The refuge was
created to protect great white herons from extinction since the population was
decimated by the demand for feathered hats. Protection of great white herons
was successful, and these magnificent powder-white birds can be observed
feeding on tidal-flats around hundreds of backcountry islands each dawn and
dusk. Three species of sea turtles rely on the backcountry for feeding and
nesting. Endangered Green sea turtles and threatened Loggerhead sea turtles
are the two documented species that successfully nest in the refuge. Hawksbill
sea turtles are known to feed in seagrass beds throughout the refuge, but
nesting has not been observed.

Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1938 as a haven for great white herons, migratory birds, and other wildlife.  The refuge is located in the lower Florida Keys and consists of almost 200,000 acres of open water and islands that are north of the primary Keys from Marathon to Key West.  The islands account for approximately 7,600 acres and are primarily mangroves with some of the larger islands containing pine rockland and tropical hardwood hammock habitats.  This vast wilderness area, known locally as the backcountry,э? provides critical nesting, feeding, and resting areas for more than 250 species of birds.



Great white herons are a white color-phase of great blue herons and are only found in the Florida Keys.  The refuge was created to protect great white herons from extinction since the population was decimated by the demand for feathered hats.  Protection of great white herons was successful, and these magnificent powder-white birds can be observed feeding on tidal-flats around hundreds of backcountry islands each dawn and dusk.



Three species of sea turtles rely on the backcountry for feeding and nesting.  Endangered Green sea turtles and threatened Loggerhead sea turtles are the two documented species that successfully nest in the refuge.  Hawksbill sea turtles are known to feed in seagrass beds throughout the refuge, but nesting has not been observed.

Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge

Name: Florida Keys Wilderness

Established by Congress in 1975

Acreage: 6,197 acres

Why Wilderness? The Wilderness Act of 1964 created the National Wilderness
Preservation System  _"in order to assure that an increasing population,
accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization does not occupy
and modify all areas in the United States, and its possessions, leaving no
lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural
condition..."_

For more information: https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=188

Name: Florida Keys WildernessEstablished by Congress in 1975Acreage: 6,197 acresWhy Wilderness? The Wilderness Act of 1964 created the National Wilderness Preservation System "in order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization does not occupy and modify all areas in the United States, and its possessions, leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition..."For more information: <a href="https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=188" rel="nofollow">https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=188</a>

Key West National Wildlife Refuge

As soon as you step into the waters of the Florida Keys, you have entered
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Within the boundaries of this
sanctuary lie unique and important marine resources, including North America's
only coral barrier reef, extensive seagrass beds, mangrove-fringed islands,
and more than 6,000 species of marine life. The sanctuary also protects pieces
of our nation's history such as shipwrecks and other archeological treasures.
This complex marine ecosystem is the foundation for the tourism and commercial
fishing based economies that are vital to Florida. Florida Keys National
Marine Sanctuary is a great place to explore these cherished waters through
diving, snorkeling, boating, and kayaking. To learn more about this sanctuary,
visitors should stop by the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center in Key West,
Florida.

As soon as you step into the waters of the Florida Keys, you have entered Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Within the boundaries of this sanctuary lie unique and important marine resources, including North America's only coral barrier reef, extensive seagrass beds, mangrove-fringed islands, and more than 6,000 species of marine life. The sanctuary also protects pieces of our nation's history such as shipwrecks and other archeological treasures. This complex marine ecosystem is the foundation for the tourism and commercial fishing based economies that are vital to Florida. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is a great place to explore these cherished waters through diving, snorkeling, boating, and kayaking. To learn more about this sanctuary, visitors should stop by the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center in Key West, Florida.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

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Nearby Parks

Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge

Key West National Wildlife Refuge

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary