Egmont Key State Park
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| Egmont Key State Park & National Wildlife Refuge | |
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| IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape) | |
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| Location: | Hillsborough County, Florida, USA |
| Nearest city: | St. Petersburg, Florida |
| Area: | 328 acres |
| Established: | 1974 |
| Governing body: | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
Egmont Key State Park is a Florida State Park located on Egmont Key, at the mouth of Tampa Bay, in the state of Florida, United States. It lies southwest of Fort DeSoto Park. It can only reached by boat or ferry. The Egmont Key Lighthouse and the ruins of Fort Dade, a Spanish-American War era fort, are located in the park.
The park is also the Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge, and was established as such in 1974. It is one of the three 'Tampa Bay Refuges', and administered as a part of the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
The island was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on December 11, 1978.
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[edit] Fauna
Among the wildlife in the park are gopher tortoises, hummingbirds, and seabirds.
[edit] Recreational activities
Activities include sunbathing, swimming, shelling, boating, picnicing, touring the fort, and wildlife viewing. Amenities include beaches, nature trails, and picnic tables. Food and water are not available in the park.
[edit] Hours
The park is open from 8:00 am till sundown year round.
[edit] Images
 Beach on east side of island. Sunshine Skyway Bridge in background. |
 Fresnel lenses from old light. |
 View looking east toward Fort De Soto Park. |
 Looking north along eastern beach of Egmont Key. |
 Brick road, Fort Dade ruins. |
 Gopher tortoise by nature trail. |
 Beach with dead palm trees on west side of island. |
 West side of island. |
 Ruins on west side of island. |
 Reconstructed Guardhouse, Fort Dade |
[edit] References
- Egmont Key State Park at Florida State Parks
- Egmont Key State Park at Absolutely Florida
- Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Hillsborough County listings at National Register of Historic Places
- Hillsborough County listings at Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs
