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EcoGuide Florida Keys | Marathon
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Marathon
by Richard H. Stewart
AUTHOR/PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Often referred to as the heart of the Florida Keys, Marathon is approximately half way between Key Largo and Key West (MM 61 to 47).

Established in the early 1800’s as a fishing village, Marathon received its name when Henry Flagler moved his railroad construction to the island and began his two year “marathon” to extend the railroad on to Key West.

Marathon is home to the longest segmental bridge in the world — the Seven Mile Bridge. It is also home to a variety of natural attractions from hard wood hammocks and rain forests to stretches of white sand beaches. Curry Hammock is made up of a group of islands in the Middle Keys, with public access to swimming, a playground, picnic tables, grills and showers on the ocean side of Little Crawl Key. The hardwood hammocks found on these tropical islands support one of the largest populations of thatch palms in the United States. Mangrove swamps, sea grass beds and wetlands provide vital habitats for tropical wildlife.

As with most of the Keys, kayak locations are plentiful with the most popular from Boot Key off the main island of Marathon south to the popular Bahia Honda State Park. Bahia Honda is one of the deepest natural channels in the Keys and has sandy beaches for swimming and
snorkeling activities. Fishing is found offshore, on the reefs or bayside flats. The old Seven Mile bridge is also a favorite place to fish from.

Scuba diving, snorkeling and even SNUBA are available on dozens of dive sites — Sombrero Reef the most noteable — all suitable for both experienced diver and the inexperienced. Marathon takes pride in being one of the Keys wreck trek stops with its 200 foot Thunderbolt.



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