Molasses Reef facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Molasses Reef |
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The winch from the Slobadana sank on Molasses Reef in 1887
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 Location in Florida
Location in Caribbean
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| Location | Florida, USA |
| Waterbody | Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary |
| Nearest land | Key Largo |
| Coordinates | 25°00′50″N 80°22′15″W / 25.01389°N 80.37083°W |
| Dive type | Open-water |
| Depth range | 6 to 60 ft (1.8 to 18.3 m) |
| Average visibility | 40 to 60 ft (12 to 18 m) |
| Entry type | Boat |
| Bottom composition | Coral |
| Water | Salt |
Molasses Reef is a famous coral reef located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. It's found southeast of Key Largo, Florida, in the USA. This reef is a special protected area, meaning it's carefully looked after to keep its amazing marine life safe.
Discovering Molasses Reef
Molasses Reef is part of the Key Largo Existing Management Area. This area is right next to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The reef itself is inside a Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA). This means it's a very important place for marine life.
For most of the 1900s, a special light marked the reef. This light helped boats know where the reef was.
The Wellwood Incident
On August 4, 1984, a large ship called the Wellwood ran aground on Molasses Reef. This ship was 122 meters long and carried chicken feed. When it hit the reef, it caused a lot of damage.
About 5,805 square meters of living corals were destroyed. Also, 75,000 square meters of the reef's home were hurt. The US Coast Guard helped remove the ship.
NOAA then worked to fix the reef. They placed special blocks on the damaged areas. These blocks gave new corals a place to grow. They also moved corals from Pickles Reef to help the reef heal. NOAA worked with the ship's owners to get money for the cleanup.
Exploring the Reef
Molasses Reef is a very popular spot for scuba diving and snorkeling. Many different dive sites are marked with special buoys. These buoys help divers find their way around.
The Winch Hole Mystery
One famous dive site is called the Winch Hole. You can find it near buoy #7. It's also known as the Windlass Wreck or The Winch.
Here, you can see a large metal winch. This winch came from a ship called the Slobadana. The Slobadana was a 170-foot wooden ship that sank in 1887. It had only been sailing for three years.
Besides the winch, you can find other old ship parts scattered nearby. This area also has large coral formations. There are deep channels between these corals, making it a fun place to explore for divers.
