Nature
The Florida Reef is the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States, stretching offshore along the Florida Keys in a broad arc of more than 6,000 reefs. Formed over the last 5,000 to 7,000 years as sea levels rose, it includes distinct zones such as White Bank, Hawk Channel, and the outer reef, and supports rich marine life comparable to Caribbean reefs. Protected areas cover much of it, yet pollution, disease, overfishing, coastal development, altered freshwater flow, and warming seas have caused major coral decline. Frequent bleaching, especially in 2023, has made the reef a closely watched indicator of environmental stress despite ongoing restoration efforts.
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Florida · United States
