Boot Key Harbor facts for kids
Boot Key Harbor is a natural bay found in the middle of the Florida Keys. It is completely inside the city of Marathon, Florida, in the United States. This harbor is a popular spot for boats and offers a safe place during storms.
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Getting to Boot Key Harbor
Boats can enter Boot Key Harbor from the Atlantic Ocean through two main entrances. The western entrance is about 6 feet deep when the tide is low. This depth is also found in the main boating path inside the harbor.
Another way to enter is through Sister Creek from the south. This path is about 4.2 feet deep at low tide.
The Boot Key Bridge crosses the western part of Boot Key Harbor. It connects Key Vaca to Boot Key. This bridge is currently closed to people and cars. A moving part of the bridge, called a bascule section, was taken out on October 26, 2010.
A Safe Place for Boats
Boot Key Harbor is very well protected from rough ocean conditions. This makes it a favorite spot for boaters looking for a safe place during bad weather. One person even called it "perhaps the best managed municipal mooring field in Florida."
However, in 2017, Hurricane Irma caused a lot of damage. Over 200 boats were moved around or sank during the storm.
The Mooring Field Project
A large part of Boot Key Harbor has a special area for boats called a municipal mooring field. It has 226 buoys where boats can safely tie up. The city of Marathon, Florida manages this area.
Before 2004, the harbor had many old, broken-down boats. It was like a "graveyard" for boats. Cleaning up this mess was difficult because of many rules and paperwork.
A local boatyard owner named Bruce Popham helped the city of Marathon. He convinced them to clean up the harbor. Authorities then removed about 200 old boats from Boot Key Harbor. After the cleanup, Marathon set up the mooring field. They now charge a small fee for services to help boaters who use the field.
Fun Events at the Harbor
Since 1997, Boot Key Harbor has hosted a special event every December. It's an annual Christmas Boat Parade! Boats decorated with festive lights and decorations sail through the harbor.
Images for kids
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Derelict boats in Boot Key Harbor, after Hurricane Irma
