2021 Map of Bay Keys

About this map

The Intracoastal Waterway cuts a diagonal path through the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico in this marine-focused survey of Monroe County. Located in the shallow backcountry of the Florida Keys, the area is defined by complex submerged topography and a few small mangrove landmasses. Bay Keys and Cayo Agua represent the primary emergent land in this aquatic landscape, providing essential navigation points for mariners. The map highlights the intricate network of natural passages that facilitate movement through the shallows, including the Bluefish Channel and Calda Channel. These waters have long been vital for local transit and fishing, with the East Harbor Key Channel and West Harbor Key Channel marking deep-water routes around the surrounding keys. The lack of terrestrial development emphasizes the natural state of these islands and their importance to the coastal ecology of the lower Florida Keys.