St. George Island (Florida)

Template: Infobox Island / Maintenance / area missing

St. George Iceland is an island off the Gulf Coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is part of Franklin County and has about 360 permanent residents.

Geography

The long barrier island separates the Apalachicola Bay from the Gulf of Mexico. To the west, separated only by the Government Cut -called artificial channel, the uninhabited Little George Iceland closes, which is also known as Cape St. George Iceland. The islands are 48 km long, only 400-1600 m wide and up to 3.6 m high. St. George Iceland is accessible from U.S. Highway 98 from East Point on the seven -kilometer G. Bryant Patton Bridge by car. The coast to the Gulf of Mexico consists of miles of sandy beaches.

The barrier island protects the mainland behind from prior hurricanes and tropical storms. The island has often been devastated by storms, each storm has changed the island shape.

History

The island was created about 5000 years ago. Between the 10th and 15th centuries Muskogee were the first known inhabitants of the island. Mountains of shells also contained pieces of pottery and prove that the Indians have gathered oysters and other seafood. End of the 18th century European settlers attempted to colonize the island. The Muskogee occurred in 1803 a Forbes Grant said part of their country, including St. George Iceland to the dealer from John Forbes. During the Second World War, the island served the troops located on the road to Carrabelle Camp Gordon Johnson as a training ground. 1954, the "Government Cut" or " Bob Sikes Cut" called Canal was built as a waterway for Apalachicola Bay, the Little St. George Iceland from the main island separates. In 1965, the bridge was completed to the mainland. The island was so easily accessible for tourists and holiday destination.

Economic and sights

In the middle of the island, the small business center with restaurants and shops as well as an airfield. On the island there are numerous holiday homes. To the east of the island of Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Iceland State Park. The flat Apalachicola Bay is an important oyster farming and fishing area. Until the mid-20th century, the Elliot - pine forests on the island were cut for resin extraction. The emerging resin was collected and used to Terpentinherstellung. On older trees are still created through the tapped into ' Cat face " mentioned scars visible. After a first 1833 erbauter and St. George Light -called lighthouse was destroyed in the west of the island in 1846 by storms and his successor in 1848 erected in 1851 by a hurricane was in 1852 a third lighthouse. In October 2005, this tower was destroyed by the hurricane and by 2008 reconstructed from salvaged material and according to old plans. The lighthouse is now a museum.

Environment

St. George Iceland is considered environmentally friendly island. The State of Florida acquired the bay nearest the shore of the island as well as all Little St. George Iceland. Along with the St. George Iceland State Park is almost a third of the island area in the public sector. For buildings, there are maximum sizes and heights, by building codes, the island should be protected from urban sprawl.