On our trip to Lover’s Key State Park, it was more of a
relaxing visit than the other field trips. While we still covered important
information about the history of Lover’s Key State Park, the majority of the
time that followed was exploring the beach ourselves. With the long stretch of
the sand and the water right there in front of us, we were able to swim, lie
out, observe the nature surrounding us, relax in the shade, or collect some
neat shells.
I had never been to Lover’s Key prior to our field trip, so
I had no knowledge of the history involved. We began by talking about the beach
itself. Years ago, Lover’s Key was only accessible by boat. Today, however, it
is one of the four barrier islands that make up the park. A barrier island is
defined as a long, narrow sand island that runs parallel to the main coast and
its purpose is to protect the coast from erosion. It is separated from the
mainland by either a lagoon or a bay. Animals such as dolphins, marsh rabbits,
bald eagles, roseate spoonbills, manatees, and more are found at Lover’s Key
State Park.
Another big part of the beach is the mangroves. An
interesting fact about mangroves is that they are able to grow in unstable,
tough environments. They are able to survive in areas where the water is poor in
oxygen content, in salt water, in fresh water, and in brackish water. We
learned that there are three dominant types of mangroves: red, white, and
black. The black mangrove is able to sustain high saline concentrations and the
trees grow in isolated groups or woodland formations. They can reach up to
20-25 meters in height and about 40 centimeters in diameter. Something new I
learned after researching about the mangroves is that the seeds are edible and
can be very good in a meal but if you do not prepare the meal in a certain way,
it can be harmful to your body. Mangroves are also able to expel the salt from
the water and make it into water that is ok to drink. This helps them survive
in areas such as Lover’s Key.
The nice long walk after the introduction to Lover’s Key was
very peaceful. I’ve always said my favorite place to go to clear my head is the
beach. The beach just helps me relax and is definitely my sanctuary. I enjoyed
this trip and would love to return.
Lover's Key
Fun in the sun
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