What protected marine area in the Florida Keys includes the only living coral barrier reef in the continental US?

The protected marine area is the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which includes the only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States. The sanctuary surrounds the Florida Keys and protects a connected seascape of coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangrove forests, and open water.

Established on December 28, 1990, the sanctuary covers approximately 2,900 square nautical miles. Its boundaries extend from the estuarine waters of South Florida through the Florida Keys and outward to the Dry Tortugas area, reaching into the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico.

The sanctuary is not itself the name of the reef. The reef within it is the Florida Reef, also known as the Florida Reef Tract. That distinction explains why both names appear in related quiz questions: one identifies the protected area, while the other identifies the coral ecosystem.

The sanctuary was created to protect habitats and marine life while allowing carefully managed recreation, research, and navigation. It is administered by NOAA’s National Ocean Service.