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All the United States Florida Big Pine Key Blue Hole

Blue Hole

The largest freshwater lake in the Florida Keys.

Big Pine Key, Florida

Added By
Mark Casey
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The Blue Hole is a haven for a wide array of wildlife in the Florida Keys   Wikimedia
Key Deer, an endangered species of miniature deer indigenous to only the Florida Keys populate the preserve surrounding the Blue Hole   Mark Casey / Atlas Obscura User
The Blue Hole in 1980, Photo by Raymond L. Blazevic.   keyslibraries/Flickr
  thill224 / Atlas Obscura User
turtle   planan / Atlas Obscura User
Anhinga   planan / Atlas Obscura User
  judiann0927 / Atlas Obscura User
Fresh water alligator at Blue Hole   judiann0927 / Atlas Obscura User
Anhinga   lulamay / Atlas Obscura User
  thill224 / Atlas Obscura User
Anhinga & turtle   lulamay / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The Florida Keys are known for their natural beauty and oceanic wildlife, from the coral reefs sitting just offshore to the diverse marine population that attracts coastal kayakers and sport-fishermen from around the world. The only thing visitors won't find, in fact, is freshwater — except for one oasis.

Sitting in the middle Big Pine Key — of one of the largest islands in the chain — an abandoned rock quarry forms a freshwater lake now known as the Blue Hole. The Blue Hole is an old limestone quarry. The rock was used to build many of the original roads on Big Pine Key in the 1930s and '40s.

There is no inlet or outlet to the Blue Hole, its existence is dependent on rainfall and from saltwater which flows through the surrounding porous limestone. Because freshwater is lighter than saltwater, it floats on top, forming a lens. Freshwater is very important in this island ecosystem and the Blue Hole provides a vital resource to many animals, including the Key deer, American alligator, turtles, and many species of birds. The Blue Hole also is home to many different types of fish, in fact, there are both saltwater and freshwater species here!

The Blue Hole forms the epicenter of the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuge, and more specifically the National Key Deer Refuge — a large expanse of reserved forest meant to house and preserve the unique Key Deer (a miniature and endangered species of deer), which only live on Big Pine Key.

Since it's such a large source of fresh water, the Blue Hole attracts multitudes of wildlife unique to the Keys beyond just the Key Deer, including large invasive iguanas, tropical birds, various snakes, and reptiles, and of course the Florida Alligator — missing from most parts of the Keys but happy to live and bask in this oasis.

Related Tags

Blue Holes Quarries Water

Know Before You Go

Drive down the Overseas Highway (US 1) to Big Pine Key and head down 21st Street (Key Deer Blvd) until you see signs for the refuge/Blue Hole.

Community Contributors

Added By

Mark Casey

Edited By

willysr2, Allison, planan, lulamay...

  • willysr2
  • Allison
  • planan
  • lulamay
  • judiann0927
  • thill224

Published

September 8, 2011

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Sources
  • http://www.keyshistory.org/bigpinekey.html
  • http://360floridakeys.com/things-to-see-and-do/mm30-blue-hole/
Blue Hole
175 Key Deer Boulevard
L213
Big Pine Key, Florida, 33043
United States
24.705629, -81.379595
Get Directions

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