The Keys stretch some 200 sun-drenched miles from Biscayne Bay to the Dry Tortugas, encompassing innumerable islands, reefs, lakes, bays, and beaches. From the largest island, Key Largo, to the tip of Key West, they're linked by 43 bridges scattered along the 126-mile Overseas Highway. As you travel along, you'll come to appreciate the green and white mile markers telling you how far you've come, and how much farther you have to go. The Keys environment ranges from the fragility of America's only living coral reefs to the seemingly impenetrable mangrove fortresses of the back country. Hugging the shores are crystal clear waters that beckon you to explore their living tapestry of undersea life.
Visitors are welcome, but cautioned to treat their surroundings with proper care and respect.
Integrally connected with the natural beauty of the Keys is civilization. The fierce Calusas were the first known inhabitants. They were replaced in time by marauding pirates, military garrisons in a succession of wars, hard working farmers, and today's varied mix of artists, writers, dive captains, chefs, hospitality industry professionals, and countless others in an ever changing cast of characters. As it has for centuries here, life focuses on the water. The commercial and residential development of recent years had to wait for adequate fresh water to be supplied from the mainland.