Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park

The Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park is a state park in Monroe County in the U.S. state of Florida.

Geography

The 979 -acre State Park extends across the northern third of the island of Key Largo. The coral island rises up to three meters above sea level, to a large extent only about half a meter above the sea. Just south of the park borders the Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge and the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.

Flora and Fauna

The park contains the largest tropical hardwood forest in the United States. In the park area numerous animal and plant species occur alone 84 species are under protection as the Common Milkweed, the American crocodile, the Key Largo bush rat, a subspecies of the American bush rat or the island - dovetail. During the migration season, in April and October, the park area is a stopover for migratory birds. In addition, numerous indigenous tropical birds in the park occur as the White -crowned Pigeon, Mangrove Cuckoo and the Bartvireo, also of Cuba Flycatcher and the Dickschnabelvireo are regularly sighted in the park. With its many different butterfly species, the park is a great place for butterfly watching.

History

On the Key Largo coral reef, are stranded on the numerous ships, as early as 1825 a lightship was anchored. The guards erected on the island his home. Edward Bell, a lighthouse keeper of the 1848 build instead of the lightship beacon, put on a 280 -acre orchard. The orchard was destroyed by a hurricane in 1876, but still remember ruins and overgrown fruit trees on the plantation.

There was a built in 1965 Nike Hercules missile defense, which was in operation until 1979 on the coast.

Because of the uncontrolled and construction activity in the Florida Keys since the 1970s, the government declared parts of the islands to the Area of ​​Critical State Concern. The Department of Community Affairs in 1983 took over the development and approval of numerous construction projects and created an overall plan. The development of the northern part of the island of Key Largo has been Consequently stopped, the current park area where the Port Bougainville called, about 40 ha, the site of the North Key Largo Yacht Club should be built with numerous hotels and residential buildings, was established in 1982 with funds from the Florida's Conservation and Recreational Lands program acquired. In the same year the park was established as Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Site.

2001, the park was renamed in honor of Dagny Johnson, a leading local environmental activist who fought along with various environmental organizations against the urban sprawl and development of Key Largo and other islands as well as the destruction of coral reefs.

The already applied for Port Bougainville Marina as well as roads, buildings and other facilities were filled gradually by the park administration again or demolished and re- planted with native plants.

Activities

The park is open all year, the visit is chargeable. Through the park introduces about one kilometer long paved trail, and around 9 km of hiking trails. The main path is provided with self-explanatory notice boards, in addition Ranger guided tours are offered. On the main road a framed with natural plant butterfly garden is, there is a picnic pavilion and some picnic areas.