Anclote Key facts for kids
Anclote Key from the air
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 Anclote Key
Location in Florida
Anclote Key
Location in the United States
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Gulf of Mexico |
| Coordinates | 28°11′16″N 82°50′44″W / 28.18778°N 82.84556°W |
| Administration | |
| State | Florida |
| County | Pasco and Pinellas |
Anclote Key is a beautiful barrier island located off the Gulf Coast of Florida in the United States. It's the biggest island in a group called the Anclote Keys. You can find it near the city of Tarpon Springs. The name "Anclote" comes from a Spanish word meaning "anchor."
This special island can only be reached by boat. It's divided into two protected areas: Anclote Key Preserve State Park and Anclote National Wildlife Reserve. Other nearby islands, like North Anclote Bar, South Anclote Bar, and Three Rooker Island, are also part of the State Park.
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Exploring Anclote Key
Anclote Key is a natural wonderland. It has different types of environments. You can find mangrove forests, which are trees that grow in salty water. There are also pine flatwoods, which are flat areas with pine trees. Of course, there are also lovely beaches to explore.
Wildlife on the Island
Many shorebirds love Anclote Key. They come here to build their nests and raise their young. It's a very important place for these birds to live and breed. You might see many different kinds of birds if you visit.
Location and Features
Most of Anclote Key is in Pasco County. A smaller part of the island, at its southern end, is in Pinellas County. The island is also home to the historic Anclote Keys Light, a lighthouse that helps guide boats.
Anclote Key is the northernmost barrier island along Florida's Gulf coast. A barrier island is like a natural wall that protects the mainland from ocean waves and storms. This island is about 3 miles (4.8 km) long. It has channels at each end where the tide flows in and out.
How Anclote Key Changes Over Time
Scientists have studied Anclote Key. They believe the island has been around for a very long time, possibly between 1,200 and 1,500 years. You can find sand dunes on the island. Some of these dunes can be as tall as 10 feet (3 meters)!
Island Growth
Anclote Key has grown quite a bit since the 1960s. The northern part of the island has gotten much longer. This growth has even blocked the channel that used to be at the north end of the island.
Formation of New Islands
In the 1990s, new sand bars started to form. These bars appeared off both the north and south ends of Anclote Key. Over time, these sand bars grew larger and rose above the water. Now, these new islands have plants growing on them. They are known as North Anclote Bar and South Anclote Bar.
Before 1960, there wasn't much loose sand around Anclote Key. This was because beds of seagrass covered the bottom of the Gulf. Seagrass helps hold the sand in place. But around 1960, the seagrass disappeared. This made the sand on the ocean bottom available to be moved by waves and currents. This moving sand helped create the new islands we see today.
See also
In Spanish: Cayo Anclote para niños
