C-BISCAYNE+NATIONAL+PARK

=Biscayne National Park. = = = =__**Park Profile **__=
 * Location: 9700 SW 328 Street, [|Homestead, Florida].
 * Park Size: 181,500 acres. (95% underwater.)
 * Climate: Very warm in the summer. Winters are mild, and very windy. Rain is a possibility at anytime.
 * Region: [|South East], United States.
 * Visitors Per Year: Around 500,000.
 * Most Popular Sites: [|Convoy Point,] [|Boca Chita Key] [|Elliot Key] [|Adam's Key].

=**__Park History__** = Biscayne National Park was once an area of land which was taken over by the [|Tequesta Indias], who were a small Native American tribe that settled at Biscayne Bay in the early 1500's. Biscayne Bay was the perfect place to live for these Native American's, as they became experts at fishing in order to get the food sources they needed to survive. In 1513, a man named [|Ponce de Leon] visited the Bay. He was the first Spaniard to ever set foot in Biscayne. Soon, many Spaniards followed him, and brought over many diseases that the Tequesta Indians were not prepared to handle. The Spaniards wiped out almost the entire Tequesta population. During the 1800's, the land was home to many pirates. After all the pirates were cleared out, the land was used mostly for farming, which ended in 1906 because of a terrible hurricane. Following the hurricane, the land was used for guiding tourists who had come to Florida. Soon, numbers of resources began to reduce, which is the reason for the very first monument in Biscayne Bay. The monument was built in 1968 to help protect the resources in the bay. Biscayne Bay was officially made a National Park on June 28, 1980.

=__**Environmental Issues** __= Biscayne National Park is suffering from many environmental issues, all having to do with the water quality and the effects on [|marine life] in the bay, so the main issue is [|water pollution]. Since the park is mostly ocean, it is open to many other bodies of water. These bodies of water make if very easy for harmful chemicals and pollutants to enter the bay. Since the main attraction of this park is the beautiful bay, marine life, and coral reef, these things are being effected by the chemicals that enter the bay. Water temperature is also increasing, making a big difference in the bay. The current population of fish and other sea creatures is currently dropping. Another issue is noise level. Animals are being effected by the way the noise level is rising, causing animals to become afraid. The [|National Park Service] is trying hard to reduce noise levels in areas around and in the park to help save the lives of the animals living there.

=**__Recreational Activities__** =
 * Boating.
 * Fishing*
 * Snorkling / Scubadiving.
 * Wildlife Watching.
 * Camping.
 * Museums.
 * In order to participate in fishing, there are a few rules you must follow.





=**__Video__** =

media type="custom" key="5423229"

=__**Work Cited**__ =

"Biscayne National Park." //National Park Service//. Web. 21 Feb 2010. .

"Biscayne National Park." //Park Vision//. Web. 21 Feb 2010. .

"Park Photos." //Visit Florida//. Web. 21 Feb 2010. .