SEBASTIAN INLET STATE PARK

'Sebastian Inlet State Park' is a Florida State Park located 10 miles south of Melbourne Beach, Florida. The park rests on the border of Brevard and Indian River County. The land for the park was acquired by the state of Florida in 1971. In 2006, it was the sixth most visited state park in Florida.^[1]

Contents

Geography

History

Recreational activities

Hours

Footnotes

See also

References and external links

Geography

The park occupies 755 acres (3.06 km²) on the barrier island on the Atlantic coast of Brevard County, at a point where a channel links the Indian River intracoastal waterway with the Atlantic. Part of the Park is south of the Inlet in Indian River County

History

A Spanish fleet was wrecked in this area in 1715. The site where the survivors camped was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places on August 12, 1970, under the title of 'Spanish Fleet Survivors and Salvors Camp Site'. Today, the McLarty Treasure Museum (a part of the park) exhibits artifacts relating to the wreck.

Recreational activities

The park mainly provides leisure activities, particularly fishing from both its Atlantic and Indian River shores; fishing jetties extend from both sides of the inlet into the ocean. There are facilities for swimming, surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving from the 5 km (3 miles) of Atlantic beach. Boats can be launched into the Indian River, and there is a marina complex at the north end of the park. Camping is permitted.
Wildlife is abundant in the park, and the casual visitor can reasonably hope to see ospreys and many species of shorebird. Sea turtles nest in the park, and visitors during the summer may make reservations for a nighttime foray to observe nesting Loggerhead Turtles.

Hours

Unlike many state parks, Sebastian Inlet is open 24 hours per day.

Footnotes

1. http://flatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070723/NEWS01/707230318/1006 retrieved July 23, 2007

See also

Sebastian Inlet (Florida)

References and external links

★ Sebastian Inlet State Park at Florida State Parks