The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1869-03-02
How the Florida Keys were Formed
BY MRS E. c. AooAssIz.


Just outside the lower extremity Of
| Florida are n number of islands, the
easternmost almost touching the main
land, while the western lie little farther
off,
In consequence of this peculiarly in
their disposition, the space left between
these islands and the Florida coast, mark
ed on the map as mud fats, is broad and
op"u at the western outlet, but almost
close towards the east II is important
to remember the form of tnis broad inter-
veniDg space, stretching between the keys
and the mainland, because the narrower
and more shallow end may easily be filled
up with sand, mud, &c, If you will look
at the map, you. will see, by the fats at
the eastern end of this open channel, ;lat
such process is actually going on, In
fact, q current sets towards the channel,
drifting into it sand, mud, and debris Of
all sorts
l hope to show you that these fats, be-
ing gradually consolidated into dry land,
will at last make bridge between the
islands and the lower extremity of Florir
Ga, uniting them solidly together, 50 that
the former will cease 10 oe islands AMI
will become part Of the main land
Indeed, we shall find that Florida her.
self, so far as her structure is known, is
only succession Of such rows Of islands
NJ now lie outside her southern shore, uni~
ted together, By fats exactly like those
accommodating at this moment between lhc
present islands and the coast, These Is,
lands are called the Keys Of Florida, and
are distinguished from one another by a
variety of appellations, such as Sand
Key, Key West, Indian Key, Long Key,
and the like. They are Of various sizes
some--like Key West. for instance-aro
large inhabited islands, planted wiz fruit
and flower gardens, where eocoa-nuts and
other palm, orange treos, and bananas,
grow in great luxuriance, while others are
mere barren rocks scarcely rising above
the surface Of the ocean, washed over
by the waves, and wholly destitute Of
verdure,
Suppose now that in fancy We rail out
from the keys on thuir seaward side, choos-
ing bright, calm day, when the surfaca
Of the ocean is still, The waters Of thai
region are always remarkably clear; and
under such influences Of sky and aim93-
phere they are 80 transparent that the
bottom may be seen at considerable
depth, distinct as a picture under glass.
Sailing southwark to distance OF some
four or fve miles from the keys, we fud
ourselves in the neighborhocd of rocky
wall rising from the ocean bottom, A.
we approach it, if we look over the side
of the boat, we shall sec that we arc pass
ing over floating shrubbery, Il branching
growth spreading in every direction, its
lighter portions swaying gently with the
movement Of the sea. Il is not green,
like land shrubbery, but has variety Of
soft, bright hues purple, rose, amethyst,
yellow, brown, and orange, If circum-
stances are favorable, and the water crys.
tai clear, as it sometimes is, we shall have
glimpses of brightScolored fishes swim,
ming in and out amid this tangled thick.
ct, or here and there we discern a va.
rie,y Of seaoanemones, their soft fasthery
fringes fully expanded.
This wonderful growth over which we
have imagined ourselves to be sailing is
the top of coral wall. Reaching the
surface Of the water at intervals it forms
little rocky islands here and there, divi,
ded from each other By open channels,
TIN ough some of which vessels Of ccas;d,
ersble size may pass. This wall is in fact
a repetition Of the same process as that
which has formed the inner row ofkeys,
though in more incomplete stage it is
built up by the coral animals from the
sea bottom. Wherever circumstances are
most favorable to their development, there
they grow most rapidly. In such spots
they bring the wall TO the ses level sooner
than in others.
This done, however, the work of the
coral animals ceases, because they cannot
live out of the water. But in nconsequence
OF process Of decay and decomposi
ton, which shall dcscribs when we ex-
anime the structure and life of the ami.
mails themselves, such wall-or coral
reef, as it is called-is surrounded by
coral, sand and fragments worn away
from it by the action Of the sea.
Materials Of this sort, mixed with sea-
weed, broken shells, &c, soon gather upon
the top ofthe reef wherever the coral
growth has brought it to the sea level
by degrees soil is collected upon such
spots, raising them more and more above
the surface OF the water. In this way
the islands have been formed which we
call the Keys of Florida and in the
same way the little patches now rising
highest on the summit of the Reef will
enlarge gradually into more and more ex,
teDsive islands, though at present many Of
them are scarcely visable above the wa.
ter level. Our Young Folks for March.