View source for Bahia Honda Key

{{Short description|Island in Florida, United States}}
{{other uses|Bahia Honda (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name            = Bahia Honda State Park
| iucn_category   = IV
| photo           = Bahia Honda Florida Keys.jpg
| photo_caption   = Bahia Honda’s beach in April 2019
| map             = Florida
| map_caption     = 
| location        = [[Monroe County, Florida]], United States
| nearest_city    = [[Marathon, Florida]]
| coordinates     = {{coord|24.659576|-81.261578|display=inline, title}}
| area            = {{convert|524|acre|km2}}
| established     = 1961
| visitation_num  = 
| visitation_year = 
| governing_body  = [[Florida Department of Environmental Protection]]
}}

'''Bahia Honda''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|eɪ|ə|_|ˈ|h|ɒ|n|d|ə}} {{Respell|BAY|ə|_|HON|də}}, {{IPA|es|baˈia ˈonda|lang}}; {{literal translation|deep bay}}) is an island in the lower [[Florida Keys]].

[[U.S. Route 1 in Florida|U.S. 1]] (the [[Overseas Highway]]) crosses the key at approximately mile markers 36-38.5, between [[Ohio Key]] and [[Spanish Harbor Key]] {{convert|12|mi|km}} west of [[Marathon, Florida|Marathon]], close to the west end of the [[Seven Mile Bridge]].

The island is virtually uninhabited, being home to the {{convert|524|acre|ha|adj=on|abbr=off}} '''Bahia Honda State Park'''.<ref>{{cite book | last=Farren | first=R. | title=Highroad Guide to the Florida Keys and Everglades | publisher=John F Blair Pub | series=Highroad Guides | year=1999 | isbn=978-0-89587-280-7 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d1eFpaZDEOUC&pg=PA94 | access-date=September 7, 2017 | page=94}}</ref><ref name="Fodor's 2017"/> Founded in 1961, the park occupies most of the island.<ref name="Fodor's 2017"/> The channel at the island's west end is one of the deepest natural channels in the Florida Keys.

==Fauna==
Marine life is quite plentiful in the waters surrounding the island. Just off the beach snorkelers can spot many species of small [[Coral reef|reef]] fish, as well as [[Rajiformes|rays]], [[barracuda]], and even the occasional small [[nurse shark]].

The only known natural colony of the now rare [[Miami blue]] butterfly was discovered in the park in 1999. The butterfly had been thought to have become extinct as a result of [[Hurricane Andrew]] in 1992.

==Flora==
Several rare plants, including yellow satinwood (''[[Zanthoxylum flavum]]''), Florida silver palm (''[[Coccothrinax argentata]]''), Coconut palm (''[[Cocos nucifera]]''), Key thatch palm (''[[Leucothrinax morrisii]]''), and the endangered small-flowered lily-thorn (''[[Catesbaea]] [[Catesbaea parviflora|parviflora]]'') are found in the park

==History==
[[Henry Flagler]]'s [[Florida East Coast Railway]] once ran through the present parkland to [[Key West]]. Built between 1905 and 1912, it was destroyed by the severe [[Labor Day Hurricane of 1935]]. Later, the railroad bridge foundations were used to build the [[Overseas Highway]], which became [[U.S. Route 1 in Florida|U.S. 1]]. Part of the old Bahia Honda Bridge is accessible from the park, and offers a panoramic view of the islands. In 1908, the Florida East Coast Railway Company built two large two-story dormitories there to house workers building the Bahia Honda Bridge.

In 1890 Bahia Honda Key was the southern terminus for Miami-Dade county, then known as Dade county, which stretched as far north as present day St. Lucie River.

==Recreational activities==
The {{convert|2.5|mi|km|adj=on}} natural, white sand beach was rated the #1 beach in 1992 in the United States by [[Stephen Leatherman|"Dr. Beach" Stephen Leatherman]] (the first Florida beach to be so honored), making it popular for swimming. A [[nature trail]] near the park's oceanside beach skirts a tidal [[lagoon]] before passing through a coastal [[South Florida rocklands#Rockland hammock|hardwood hammock]]. [[Bicycling]] and [[inline skating]] can be done on the park's {{convert|3.5|mi|km|adj=on}} paved road, and there are several [[fishing]] and [[picnic]]king spots in the area. The Sand and Sea Nature Center(now closed due to hurricane damage) featured displays about local sea and shore life, including corals, shells, crabs, [[sea urchin]]s, drift seeds, [[sea sponge]]s and [[sea turtle]]s. There has been now efforts to re-establish a nature center.

[[Kayak]]s and [[snorkeling]] gear can be rented at the park, and boat trips for snorkeling on the reef are available. The park has a [[marina]] with boat slips available for overnight rental. Campsites (primitive and full hook-up) and vacation cabins are available, although reservations for the winter months can be very difficult to get.

The park is also a part of the [[Great Florida Birding Trail]].

==Hours==
Florida state parks are open between 8 a.m. and sundown every day of the year (including holidays).

==Climate==

Bahia Honda Key has a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Aw]]), similar to the rest of the Florida Keys.

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Bahia Honda Key, Florida (1991–2020 normals, extremes 2004–present)
|single line = Y
| Jan avg record high F = 82.1
| Feb avg record high F = 84.4
| Mar avg record high F = 85.9
| Apr avg record high F = 89.0
| May avg record high F = 90.9
| Jun avg record high F = 92.0
| Jul avg record high F = 92.9
| Aug avg record high F = 93.7
| Sep avg record high F = 91.9
| Oct avg record high F = 89.7
| Nov avg record high F = 85.1
| Dec avg record high F = 83.5
| year avg record high F = 94.1
| Jan high F = 74.3
| Feb high F = 76.3
| Mar high F = 78.4
| Apr high F = 82.4
| May high F = 85.4
| Jun high F = 88.1
| Jul high F = 89.9
| Aug high F = 89.8
| Sep high F = 87.8
| Oct high F = 84.3
| Nov high F = 79.1
| Dec high F = 76.0
|year high F = 82.6

|Jan mean F = 69.2
|Feb mean F = 70.9
|Mar mean F = 73.3
|Apr mean F = 77.1
|May mean F = 80.2
|Jun mean F = 82.9
|Jul mean F = 84.5
|Aug mean F = 84.3
|Sep mean F = 82.7
|Oct mean F = 79.9
|Nov mean F = 74.6
|Dec mean F = 71.3
|year mean F =

| Jan low F = 64.1
| Feb low F = 65.4
| Mar low F = 68.1
| Apr low F = 71.7
| May low F = 75.0
| Jun low F = 77.8
| Jul low F = 79.0
| Aug low F = 78.8
| Sep low F = 77.7
| Oct low F = 75.5
| Nov low F = 70.2
| Dec low F = 66.6
|year low F = 72.5
| Jan avg record low F = 50.5
| Feb avg record low F = 52.5
| Mar avg record low F = 57.3
| Apr avg record low F = 64.1
| May avg record low F = 69.3
| Jun avg record low F = 72.4
| Jul avg record low F = 73.2
| Aug avg record low F = 73.6
| Sep avg record low F = 73.1
| Oct avg record low F = 68.8
| Nov avg record low F = 61.3
| Dec avg record low F = 57.4
| year avg record low F = 47.5
|Jan record high F =89
|Feb record high F =90
|Mar record high F =93
|Apr record high F =95
|May record high F =98
|Jun record high F =98
|Jul record high F =100
|Aug record high F =99
|Sep record high F =99
|Oct record high F =95
|Nov record high F =94
|Dec record high F =92
|year record high F =
|Jan record low F =39
|Feb record low F =44
|Mar record low F =51
|Apr record low F =59
|May record low F =66
|Jun record low F =68
|Jul record low F =71
|Aug record low F =71
|Sep record low F =70
|Oct record low F =59
|Nov record low F =54
|Dec record low F =46
|year record low F =
|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 1.88
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.10
| Mar precipitation inch = 1.68
| Apr precipitation inch = 2.40
| May precipitation inch = 3.77
| Jun precipitation inch = 5.65
| Jul precipitation inch = 4.77
| Aug precipitation inch = 5.74
| Sep precipitation inch = 7.53
| Oct precipitation inch = 6.24
| Nov precipitation inch = 2.23
| Dec precipitation inch = 2.07
|year precipitation inch = 46.06
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 5.1
| Feb precipitation days = 5.1
| Mar precipitation days = 4.5
| Apr precipitation days = 4.8
| May precipitation days = 5.9
| Jun precipitation days = 8.3
| Jul precipitation days = 10.3
| Aug precipitation days = 11.5
| Sep precipitation days = 13.3
| Oct precipitation days = 9.9
| Nov precipitation days = 5.7
| Dec precipitation days = 5.9
| year precipitation days = 
|source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=key
| title = NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = August 10, 2021
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00080414&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Bahia Honda SP, FL
|access-date = February 16, 2023
}}
</ref>
}}

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:BHSP-sunrise01.jpg|View of the sunrise
File:Overseas Railroad.jpg|View of the [[Bahia Honda Rail Bridge]] from Bahia Honda State Park
File:Bahia Honda Sunset.jpg|Sunset through the Old Bridge
File:Magnificent Frigatebird 2.jpg|[[Magnificent frigatebird]]
File:BHSP-oldrailroadbridge.jpg|Bahia Honda State Park – Old Railroad Bridge
File:BHSP-oldrailroadbridge05.jpg|Old Railroad Bridge
File:BHSP-oldrailroadbridge02.jpg|Old Railroad Bridge – view of trusses
File:Dolphins playing off of Bahia Honda, Florida.jpg|[[common bottlenose dolphin|Bottlenose dolphin]]s swimming just off the beach
File:BHSP-morningview01.jpg|Morning view of beach
File:BHSP-plantdryseedpods.jpg|Dry seed pods
File:BHSP-beachaccessview.jpg|Beach access
File:Bahia Honda State Park.JPG|View in direction of Gulf of Mexico
File:Sunset at Bahia Honda State Park.JPG|Sunset
File:Bahia Honda panorama the key and state park looking east.jpg|Panoramic view of the Bahia Honda Key and the park from the bridge
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="Fodor's 2017">{{cite book | title=Fodor's In Focus Florida Keys: with Key West, Marathon & Key Largo | publisher=Fodor's Travel | series=Travel Guide | year=2017 | isbn=978-0-14-754675-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5tRxDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT120 | access-date=September 7, 2017 | page=pt120–122}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Bahia Honda State Park}}
*[https://www.floridastateparks.org/BahiaHonda Bahia Honda State Park] at [https://www.floridastateparks.org Florida State Parks]
*[http://www.bahiahondapark.com Park concessionare website]

{{Florida Keys}}
{{Protected areas of Florida}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Beaches of Monroe County, Florida]]
[[Category:State parks of Florida]]
[[Category:Parks in the Florida Keys]]
[[Category:Uninhabited islands of Monroe County, Florida]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in the Florida Keys]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1961]]
[[Category:Parks in Monroe County, Florida]]
[[Category:Nature centers in Florida]]
[[Category:Beaches of Florida]]
[[Category:Islands of Florida]]
[[Category:Islands of the Florida Keys]]