Radio Exito 105.5 FM Marquesas Keys

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NOAA Nautical chart of the Marquesas Keys:
part of Chart No. 11439 "Sand Key to Rebecca Shoal"
Satellite Image of the
Marquesas KeysThe Marquesas Keys, not to be confused with the Marquesas Islands(French Polynesia) in the Pacific Ocean, form an uninhabited island group about 30 miles (50 km) west of Key West, 4 miles (6 km) in diameter, and overgrown by mangrove. They are an unincorporated area of Monroe County, Florida and belong to the Lower Keys Census County Division. They also belong to the Key West National Wildlife Refuge. The total area, including the lagoon, measures 29.37 km². The land area, according to the United States Census Bureau, is 6.58 km² (exactly 6,579,703 m²), the water area 0.17 km² (165,744 m²), with a combined area 6,75 km² (6,745,447 m²), whereby water areas with connection to the open sea are not counted, but only small landlocked lakes on the Keys. The group is located at coordinates 24°34′19″N, 82°07′10″W.

The islands are part of the Florida Keys, separated from the rest of the Florida Keys, which are further east, by the Boca Grande Channel, which is 6 miles (10 km) wide until Boca Grande Key, the westernmost of the Mule Keys. Only the Dry Tortugas are still further west, 36 miles (60 km) west of the Marquesas Keys.

The central lagoon is called Mooney Harbor. The northernmost key is the largest and has a strip of sandy beach free of mangrove. In the past it was known as "Entrance Key". It surrounds the lagoon in the north and east. Adjoining in the south are smaller keys such as Gull Keys, Mooney Harbor Key, and finally about four unnamed keys in the southwest corner of the island. Older charts show that two of these keys once were named "Button Island" and "Round Island" [1].

6 miles (10 km) west of the Marquesas Keys is Rebecca Shoal.

The islands are best known for their excellent sport fishing.

Key West National Wildlife Refuge
The Marquesas were used for target practice by the military as recent as 1980.