St. Andrews Bay (Florida) facts for kids
St. Andrew Bay, often called "St. Andrews Bay", is a large bay in Florida. It is located in Bay County, in the northwest part of Florida known as the Panhandle. This bay is a huge estuary, covering about 69,000 acres. An estuary is a place where fresh water from rivers mixes with salty ocean water.
St. Andrew Bay is quite deep and salty. This is because only a few small creeks flow into it. The most important creek is Econfina Creek. Panama City, the main city in Bay County, is located right on the bay. The bay is named after Saint Andrew. A railway, the Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay Railway, was also named after the bay. This railway used to run from Panama City to Dothan, Alabama.
History of St. Andrew Bay
During the American Civil War, St. Andrew Bay was a very important place. Many saltworks were located here. Saltworks were factories that made salt. Salt was critical for the Confederacy (the Southern states) during the war. They used salt to preserve food for their soldiers.
A man named Edward Crissey helped destroy many of these saltworks. He was in charge of a steamboat called the USS Bloomer. This steamboat had a shallow bottom. This meant it could travel up small inlets where bigger ships could not go. By destroying the saltworks, Crissey caused a lot of damage to the Confederate war effort.
Wildlife in St. Andrew Bay
St. Andrew Bay is home to many amazing animals. You can often see wild dolphins swimming in the bay. They are easiest to spot in the mornings when the water is calm and smooth.
In the shallower parts of the bay, you can find huge groups of fish. These include mullet, redfish, and speckled trout. Sometimes, a manatee is also seen in the bay. Manatees are large, gentle sea mammals.
See also
In Spanish: Bahía de San Andrés (Florida) para niños
