The News from Biscayne

Park Marks Anniversary

The park that almost wasn't is celebrating its 40th anniversary this weekend.

Biscayne National Park -- 173,000 acres, 22 miles long and 14 miles wide; extending from south of Key Biscayne to north of Key Largo; 90 percent underwater -- is America's largest marine park. But if not for the dogged efforts of a handful of local activists, it might have become an oil refinery, a deep-water port, a string of causeways with condominiums and, most recently, a final approach to a commercial airport.

Biscayne National Park Finally Earns Some Respects as It Turns 40

Histories, novels and films featuring the Everglades, its colorful characters and the national park that preserves much of its remaining splendor could fill a room.

But the ones about Biscayne National Park, its ignored neighbor, could barely fill a shelf -- and most of those focus on shipwrecks or Black Caesar, pirate namesake of the creek between Old Rhodes and Elliott keys.

Biscayne National Park Celebrates 40 Years

Sometimes, Lloyd Miller still can't believe that Biscayne National Park will be celebrating its 40th birthday next weekend -- even as he meanders through it twice a week and chats with staff about preserving it for future generations.

This Waterworld Named Biscayne National Park

WITHIN sight of downtown Miami, yet worlds away, there is a place that can be considered a living testimony of 10,000 years of human history -- from pirates and shipwrecks to pineapple farmers and presidents.

That place is known as Biscayne National Park, which protects and preserves a nationally significant marine ecosystem with mangrove shorelines, a shallow bay, undeveloped islands, and living coral reefs.

Divers hospitalized after blacking out in waters

Two divers are hospitalized after blacking out in the waters at Biscayne National Park in South Florida. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue spokesman Eddy Ballester says the two young men were apparently free diving off a recreational boat Saturday afternoon. People aboard the vessel plucked the pair from the water and called emergency officials.