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Courses and distances Biscayne Channel-Hawk Channel to Miami--Continued [Abbreviations: F., fixed; Fl., flashing; Occ., occulting; W., white; R., red; dist., distant]

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The Florida Keys consist of a remarkable chain of low islands, beginning with Virginia Key, in about latitude 25°45′ N., longitude 80°09′ W., and extending in a circular sweep to Marquesas Keys, in latitude 24°33′ N., longitude 82°10′ W., a distance of nearly 145 miles. For a distance of nearly 100 miles they skirt the southeast coast of the Florida Peninsula, from which they are separated by shallow bodies of water known as Key Biscayne Bay, Card Sound, Barnes Sound, and Florida Bay, which are connected in the order named. Biscayne Bay has a depth of 9 to 10 feet (2.7 to 3.0 m) for a great part of its length; the other bodies of water are shallow, full of small keys and shoals, and of no commercial importance excepting as a cruising ground for small boats. Westward of Florida Bay the Florida Keys separate the Straits of Florida from the Gulf of Mexico.

No detailed description of the keys can be given and none is necessary. They are mostly of coral formation, all are low and for the most part covered with a dense growth of mangroves, though some are well wooded with pine, and on a few are groves of coconut trees. Pineapples are being largely cultivated on the keys. Nearly all of the keys along the Hawk Channel are inhabited, but the only place of importance is Key West.

The Intracoastal Waterway between Miami and Key West northward of the keys passes southward through Biscayne Bay, Card, Barnes, and Blackwater Sounds and connecting waterways to Florida Bay and Bahia Honda Harbor. From thence it is necessary to

FLORIDA KEYS AND REEFS

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pass either through Hawk Channel or by way of the Gulf of Mexico. The Intracoastal Waterway route is through smooth waters and is well suited to small craft. Strangers should not attempt to carry a greater draft than 4 feet (1.2 m) by this passage.

A passage suitable for very shallow draft boats only has recently been marked by beacons from a point in Big Spanish Key Channel just south of Porpoise Key to Key West. It takes a circuitous route behind the reefs and keys and approaches Key West from the northeastward. This route should not be attempted except with local knowledge. There is a controlling depth of 2 feet (0.6 m) according to surveys in 1935.

A railroad extended across the keys to Key West. The openings under the viaduct and bridges are indicated on the charts. There are two drawbridges, at Jewfish Key and Moser Channel, through which a depth of 5 to 7 feet (1.5 to 2.1 m) can be taken from Hawk Channel to Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The bridge across Moser Channel has to 106-foot opening. A strong current, sometimes reaching a velocity of about 4 knots at strength, may be experienced near the bridge. These channels are only used by small craft which trade among the keys and should not be attempted by a stranger without a pilot. The route along the north side of the keys from Miami to Bahia Honda is described in the Inside Route Pilot, New York to Key West. This route is crossed by the railroad at Jewfish Creek. There is a drawbridge at that point.

Sections of a State highway have been completed from the mainland across the keys to Key West. Vehicle ferries are in operation between the various sections, from Lower Matecumbe Key to Grassy Key and from the western end of Key Vaca to No Name Key. A drawbridge is located at Barnes Point, on Key Largo, where the highway crosses from the mainland. Other waterways are crossed by trestles which, in some instances, are reported to be of less clearance than the railroad bridges.

The currents have a velocity of 3 to 4 knots through the openings between the keys. See also page 52.

Florida Reefs.-The Florida Keys are skirted on the side next to the straits throughout their whole extent by the Florida Reefs, a chain of dangerous reefs and shoals lying at an average distance of about 5 miles from the line of keys. Between the chain of reefs and keys there is a passage called Hawk Channel. The reefs are more dangerous from the fact that they are not marked by breakers in smooth weather and few show above water. On the outer edge of and between the reefs the water shoals abruptly.

In approaching the reefs from seaward, warning of their proximity will usually be given by a difference in the color of the water, which will change from deep blue to light green. Too much dependence must not, however, be placed upon this warning. In clear weather the lighthouses and beacons make navigation along the reefs easy; in thick weather the lead must be relied upon for safety. Soundings in 50 fathoms (91 m) will assure the navigator of being within about 2 to 3 miles of the reefs, and great caution should be used in approaching them closer. Fogs, however, are not frequent in this locality.

Fowey Rocks Lighthouse, lat. 25°35′ N., long. 80°06′ W., is a brown, octagonal, pyramidal, skeleton tower on pile foundation, inclosing a

white dwelling and stair cylinder. The light is group flashing white every 10 seconds (flash 2 seconds, eclipse 1.5 seconds; flash 2 seconds, eclipse 4.5 seconds) with three red sectors, 110 feet (33 m) above the water, and visible 16 miles. A radiobeacon has been installed at the light. Hurricane warning flags are displayed, daytime only. Storm and small-craft warnings are not displayed.

Pacific Reef Lighthouse, lat. 25°22′ N., long. 80°08′ W., is a white, square, pyramidal, skeleton structure. The light is a flashing white every 3 seconds, 45 feet (13.7 m) above the water, and visible 12 miles. Carysfort Reef Lighthouse, lat. 25°13′ N., long. 80°13′ W., is a brown, octagonal, pyramidal skeleton structure on pile foundation, inclosing a conical dwelling and stair cylinder. The light is group flashing white every 20 seconds (3 flashes 0.7 seconds each; 2 eclipses 4.3 sec

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onds each; 1 eclipse 9.3 seconds) with three red sectors, 100 feet (30 m) above the water, and visible 16 miles. Small-craft, storm, and hurricane flags are displayed, daytime only.

Molasses Reef Light, lat. 25°01' N., long. 80°22′ W., is a brown, square, pyramidal, skeleton structure. The light is flashing white every 5 seconds, 45 feet (13.7 m) above the water, and visible 12 miles.

Alligator Reef Lighthouse, lat. 24°51' N., long. 80°37′ W., is a white, octagonal, pyramidal, skeleton tower on black pile foundation, inclosing a white dwelling and a stair cylinder. The light is group flashing white (4 flashes of 1 second each, 3 eclipses of 4 seconds each, and 1 eclipse of 24 seconds), with two red sectors, 136 feet (41 m) above the water, and visible 18 miles. Small-craft, storm, and hurricane flags are displayed, daytime only.

Tennessee Reef Light, lat 24°44'45" N., long. 80°46′58" W.-The structure is a black tank house on a hexagonal, pyramidal, skeleton

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tower. The light is flashing white every 3 seconds, 49 feet (14.9 m) above the water.

Very shoal appearing water was reported as existing 2 miles westward of Tennessee Reef Light.

Sombrero Key Lighthouse, lat. 24°38′ N., long. 81°07' W., is a brown, octagonal, pyramidal, skeleton tower on pile foundation, inclosing a square dwelling and stair cylinder. The light is group flashing white every 15 seconds (5 flashes 1.4 seconds each; 4 eclipses 1 second each; 1 eclipse 4 seconds), with three red sectors, 142 feet (43 m) above the water, visible 18 miles. Small-craft, storm, and hurricane flags are displayed, daytime only.

American Shoal Lighthouse, lat. 24°32′ N., long. 81°31′ W., is a brown, octagonal, pyramidal, skeleton tower on pile foundation, in

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closing dwelling and white stair cylinder. The light is flashing white (flash 1.2 seconds, eclipse 3.8 seconds) with three red sectors, 109 feet (33 m) above the water, and visible 16 miles. Small-craft, storm, and hurricane flags are displayed, daytime only.

Key West Lighthouse, lat. 24°33' N., long. 81°48' W., is a buff, conical tower, green lantern. The light is occulting white (light 6 seconds, eclipse 6 seconds), with three red sectors, 91 feet (27.7 m) above the water, and visible 14 miles.

Sand Key Lighthouse, lat. 24°27′ N., long. 81°53′ W., is a brown, square, pyramidal, skeleton structure on pile foundation, inclosing square dwelling and stair cylinder. The light is group flashing white (flash 0.5 second, eclipse 1.5 seconds, flash 0.5 second, eclipse 7.5 seconds), with four red sectors, 109 feet (33 m) above the water, and visible 16 miles.

Cosgrove Shoal Light, lat. 24°27'27'' N., long. 82°11'10'' W., is a red hexagonal pyramidal skeleton tower on piles. The light is group

flashing white (4 flashes 0.4 second each, 3 eclipses 1.6 seconds each, 1 eclipse 5.6 seconds) 49 feet (14.9 m) above the water and visible 12 miles.

Rebecca Shoal Lighthouse, lat. 24°35′ N., long. 82°35′ W., is a white, square structure on a brown pile foundation. The light is group flashing white (3 flashes 1 second each, 2 eclipses 2 seconds each, 1 eclipse 8 seconds), with a red sector, 66 feet (20.1 m) above the water, and visible 14 miles.

Pulaski Shoal Light, lat. 24°41′26′′ N., long. 82°46′28′′ W., is a black hexagonal pyramidal skeleton tower on piles. The light is flashing white (flash 0.4 second, eclipse 2.6 seconds), 49 feet (14.9 m) above the water, and visible 12 miles.

Dry Tortugas Lighthouse, lat. 24°38′ N., long. 82°55′ W., is a conical tower, lower half white, upper half black. The light is flashing white (light 1 second, eclipse 19 seconds), 151 feet (46 m) above the water, and visible 18 miles. A radiobeacon has been installed at the lighthouse.

Wrecks and dangers.-The following obstructions have been reported along the Florida Reefs:

A shoal of 62 feet (2.0 m) is 0.2 mile south of Fowey Rock Lighthouse.

A shoal of 10 feet (3.0 m) is 3⁄4 mile south of Fowey Rock Lighthouse.

A stub of broken iron, covered by 111⁄2 feet (0.4 m) of water, is 314 miles 186° true from Fowey Rock Lighthouse. This is the remains of a beacon formerly marking the reef between Star and Ledbury Reefs.

A pile dolphin, broken off below water level, is reported to lie about 1/4 mile south-southeast from Bowles Bank beacon 8. This is a danger to fishing boats.

A wreck, awash at low water, is reported on the eastern side of Long Reef, about 214 miles from Ajax Reef beacon B.

A wreck, awash at low water, is reported on the eastern edge of Long Reef, about 1/4 miles from Ajax Reef beacon B.

A wreck, with the stem showing above water, is reported on the eastern edge of Ajax Reef, about 0.4 mile north-northeast from Ajax Reef beacon B.

A small sand islet, which bares about 1 foot at high water, has been washed up on the reef about 1% miles north-northeast from Carysfort Reef Lighthouse. This changes in size and shape with every storm and occasionally disappears.

Two wrecks are reported on the eastern side of "The Elbow ", about NE 12 E. from beacon D, and distant about 0.4 and 0.7 mile, respectively. Both are reported to be covered at all stages of the tide. The wreck of a two-masted schooner lies sunk on the Florida Reefs about 6.5 miles 69° from Sombrero Key Lighthouse.

HAWK CHANNEL

The navigable passage inside the Florida Reefs from Cape Florida to Key West, a distance of about 127 miles, is known as "Hawk Channel." It varies in depth from 10 feet to 534 fathoms (3.0 to 10.5 m) and is 1/4 mile wide at its narrowest part.

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