Biscayne National Park United States

Legendary

95% water, the park preserves offshore reefs and the delicate ecosystem that relies upon it.

Photo by Sajith T S

Most people picture a national park as mountains, forests, or desert. Biscayne National Park flips that idea completely. Ninety-five percent of it is water, making it one of the largest marine parks in the entire United States.

Biscayne sits just south of Miami, protecting a rare mix of ecosystems packed into one place. It includes part of Biscayne Bay, a mangrove forest along the shoreline, the northernmost islands of the Florida Keys, and a stretch of the third-longest coral reef system on Earth.

The park has a long history before it became protected land. President Lyndon B. Johnson first established it as Biscayne National Monument in 1968, largely in response to public protests against plans to develop the area into a resort and industrial port. After further expansion, Congress officially redesignated it as Biscayne National Park in 1980.

Beneath the surface, the park hides more than just fish and coral. Six historic shipwrecks rest in its waters, part of what's known as the Maritime Heritage Trail, the only underwater archaeological trail found anywhere in the entire National Park System.

The park supports 16 endangered species, including the Schaus' swallowtail butterfly, the smalltooth sawfish, the West Indian manatee, and both green and hawksbill sea turtles. More than 500 species of fish swim through its waters, along with sponges, sea turtles, and even the occasional shark.

Nearly every island inside the park holds evidence of human use going back more than 10,000 years, from early Native American communities to pirates, farmers, and wealthy Miami residents who once used the islands as private retreats.

Snorkel or dive along the coral reef to spot colorful fish darting between the coral. Paddle a kayak through the mangrove shoreline, where roots twist right down into the water. Take a boat tour out to Boca Chita Key to see its historic lighthouse, one of the most photographed spots in the park.