Gasparilla Island State Park
The Gasparilla Iceland State Park lies at the southern end of Gasparilla Iceland, a golf island in southwest Florida at Boca Grande. The upstream coast Island is only accessible via the toll road Boca Grande Causeway. The Florida State Park is 51 hectares and was opened in 1983. Two beaches, Sea Grape and Range Light, located in the park.
The Gasparilla Iceland State Park is Americas first two time winner of the National Gold Medal, an award from the National Recreation and Park Association in the United States.
Attractions
Worth seeing is the Boca Built in 1890 on the southern tip of the island of Grande Lighthouse and the attached museum and visitor center. The lighthouse is one of the oldest buildings in Lee County and is the oldest building on the island. The U.S. Coast Guard operated the lighthouse until 1966, he is open to the public after extensive renovations since 1983. In 1986 he was included in the list of the National Register of Historic Places.
Wildlife
Various wading birds such as herons can be found here. Manatees, osprey and the gopher tortoise are observed as well. Fish stocks before Gasparilla Iceland are considered the richest in Florida, popular fish species are redfish, trout, snook of, cobia and tarpon.
Ranger program
The rangers of the park organize every Mittmoch tomorrow at 9.00 clock a park walk and clarify about the history and the living plants and animals in the park.
Myths and legends
According to legend, the island is named after the pirate Jose Gaspar, who used the island with his team in 1700 as a refuge and hiding place. A specter is apparently the headless apparition of a Spanish princess named Josefa or Yuseppa that was once kidnapped by pirates. Jose Gaspar fell in love with her but after she was not interested and the pirates rejected, he drew his sword furiously and struck her head with it. Unfortunately, was his love for the princess so great that even though he ruefully her body buried on the beach near the later built the historic lighthouse, however, took the head with it, so that the spirit phenomenon still restlessly searching for her missing head is located.