Biscayne Bay
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Southern Biscayne Bay makes up the bulk of Biscayne National Park. |
Biscayne Bay (
Bahía Vizcaina, in
Spanish) is a
lagoon that is approximately 35 miles (56 km) long and up to 8 miles (13 km) wide located on the
Atlantic coast of south
Florida. It is usually divided for purposes of discussion and analysis into three parts, North Bay, Central Bay and South Bay.
North Bay separates
Miami Beach on its
barrier island from
Miami on the
mainland. It has been severely affected over the last century by raw
sewage releases, urban
runoff, shoreline
bulkheading,
dredging, the creation of
artificial islands and the loss of natural fresh water flow into the bay. North Bay accounts for only 10% of the water area of the bay.
Central Bay is the largest part of the bay. It is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the
Safety Valve, a series of shallow flats separated by tidal flow channels, stretching from the south end of
Key Biscayne to the Ragged Keys at the north end of the
Florida Keys. It has been adversely affected primarily by bulkheading, urban runoff discharged by canals, and the loss of natural fresh water flow.
South Bay is nearly as large as Central Bay, and is the least affected by human activities, although it also suffers from the loss of natural fresh water flow. South Bay is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the northernmost of the Florida Keys, and is connected to
Florida Bay through channels and "sounds" lying between the mainland and the keys.
The first bridge across Biscayne Bay was the 2.5 mile wooden
Collins Bridge built by
John S. Collins and
Carl G. Fisher. The
toll bridge was "the longest wooden bridge in the world" when it was completed in
1913 at the southern terminus of the
Dixie Highway. The Collins Bridge was replaced in 1925. In modern times, the
Venetian Causeway follows the same route along the artificial
Venetian Islands. The MacArthur, Julia Tuttle, 79th Street and Broad causeways connect Miami to Miami Beach, and the Rickenbacker Causeway connects Miami to
Key Biscayne. The Card Sound bridge connects the mainland in the
Homestead, Florida area to the northern part of
Key Largo.
The bay is home to
Biscayne National Park.
*
USGS study of submarine undergrand seepage in the Biscayne Bay lagoon*
Biscayne Bay : A Bibliography of the Marine Environment*
South Florida Water Management District: Coastal Ecosystems: Biscayne Bay*
Florida Department of Environmental Protection: Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve*
History and Ecology of Biscayne Bay
