16 Captivating Facts About the Florida Keys You Need To Know
Looking for fascinating facts about the Florida Keys? Whether you’re planning a trip, or you just want some more info, here’s the Florida Keys trivia you need to know!
The Florida Keys are a chain of islands located in the Atlantic Ocean and are one of the most popular vacation destinations in America. But what many don’t know is that these islands have a much deeper history than just being a tourist destination…
The Florida Keys is an archipelago that extends from the southern tip of Florida into the Gulf of Mexico. They’re home to many different kinds of wildlife, including dolphins, turtles and manatees. There are also plenty of other activities for travellers who want something more than just sunbathing on a beach in the Florida Keys or snorkelling in the warm waters!
But today, rather than the many great things to do in the Florida Keys, let’s look at some of the most fascinating facts about the Florida Keys instead.
1. The Keys are made up of 800 islands
There are 800 islands in total in the Florida Keys, spanning over 180 miles. There are several different types of houses that are available to rent or purchase on these islands today. You can still see where some of the original inhabitants lived.
Even though there are so many islands in the Florida Keys only 43 of them are actually accessible, via bridges.
2. Key West is the southernmost point in the Continental United States
Key West is famous for being closer to Havana in Cuba than to Florida’s own Miami. With it only being about 90 miles to Havana, Key West was one of the most popular cities for Cubans to flee to when they were trying to avoid conscription during the Cuban revolution.
3. The Florida Keys have been home to many famous people
One of my favourite facts about the Florida Keys is that they’ve been home to numerous famous and influential people throughout the years including:
Ernest Hemingway
The Florida Keys is home to Ernest Hemingway’s house which is now a museum. He lived in Key West for about 10 years and wrote several famous novels there, including the almighty Old Man and the Sea.
READ MORE: If you want to know more on how to have a great day in Key West, click here!
Robert Frost
The Florida Keys was also home to another famous write and poet Robert Frost. He spent time in Key West throughout his life and even purchased a house there at one point.
Harry S. Truman
Harry Truman and his wife Bess spent their winters in Key West while he was still in office. The waterfront house they lived is now a museum that is open to the public.
Jimmy Buffet
Buffet got his start in the Keys as a street performer and has recorded several albums referencing interesting things about the islands. He used to have a house in Key West on Waddell Street. He has a popular restaurant there and still stops in sometimes to play a song.
4. The Florida Keys have 20+ artificial reefs to explore
The Florida Keys are a great place for scuba divers and snorkellers to spend some time in the water as it’s home to 20+ artificial reefs to explore. Since the early 1980s, numerous reefs were created through the sinking of ships to provide a home to aquatic life.
In 2002, the USS Spiegal Grove, a landing dock ship that was 34 years old at the time was sunk in Key Largo to create a one-of-a-kind underwater environment for the native sea life.
One of the best activities in the Florida Keys is to go scuba diving and see it all.