Marquesas Keys

Marquesas Keys

NOAA Nautical chart of the Marquesas Keys: part of Chart No. 11439 "Sand Key to Rebecca Shoal"
Geography
Location	Caribbean
Coordinates	24°34′19″N 82°07′10″W / 24.57194°N 82.11944°W / 24.57194; -82.11944
Archipelago	Florida Keys
Total islands	9
Major islands	Entrance Key
Area	6.58 km2 (2.54 sq mi)
Administration
United States
State	Florida
County	Monroe County, Florida
Census County Division	Lower Keys

The Marquesas Keys form an uninhabited island group about 20 miles (32 km) west of Key West, four miles (6 km) in diameter, and largely covered by mangrove forest. They are an unincorporated area of Monroe County, Florida and belong to the Lower Keys Census County Division.^[1] They are protected as part of the Key West National Wildlife Refuge.^[2] The Marquesas were used for target practice by the military as recently as 1980.

The total area, including the lagoon, measures 29.37 km² (11.34 sq mi). The land area, according to the United States Census Bureau, is 6.58 km² (2.54 sq mi) (exactly 6,579,703 m²), the water area 0.17 km² (0.066 sq mi) (165,744 m²), giving a combined area of 6.75 km² (2.61 sq mi), not counting water areas with connection to the open sea, but including small landlocked lakes on the Keys. The group is located at coordinates 24°34′19″N 82°07′10″W / 24.57194°N 82.11944°W / 24.57194; -82.11944.

The islands are part of the Florida Keys, separated from the rest of the Florida Keys, which are farther east, by the Boca Grande Channel, which is 6 miles (9.7 km) wide until Boca Grande Key, the westernmost of the Mule Keys. Only the Dry Tortugas are farther west, 36 miles (58 km) west of the Marquesas Keys.

The central lagoon is called Mooney Harbor. The northernmost key is the largest and has a strip of sandy beach free of mangrove. In the past it was known as "Entrance Key". It surrounds the lagoon in the north and east. Adjoining in the south are smaller keys such as Gull Keys, Mooney Harbor Key, and finally about four unnamed keys in the southwest corner of the group. Older charts show that two of these keys once were named "Button Island" and "Round Island".^[3]

Six miles (10 km) west of the Marquesas Keys is Rebecca Shoal.

While the islands are uninhabited by humans, rays, sharks, sea turtles, and bird life abound. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary has designated no-motor and no-access areas to protect nesting, feeding, and roosting birds and nesting turtles.^[4]

The islands are also known for sport fishing.^{[citation needed]}

• Key West National Wildlife Refuge
• Pseudo-atoll

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Marquesas Keys.

• Key Names: A Gazeteer of the Islands of the Florida Keys