Key West FL. Travel Guide * Where America Ends and the Tropics Begin*Florida USA

Book excerpt: Key West is an island city in the southernmost point of the continental United States, in Florida. The city is known for its beautiful beaches, turquoise waters, rich history, and unique culture. The island is famous for its stunning nature, including the impressive coral reef, which is a popular destination for diving and snorkeling. Key West also boasts a vibrant arts and culture scene, as well as a laidback atmosphere that attracts visitors from all over the world. In this chapter, we will introduce you to some of the best activities and places to do so that you can get the most out of your visit to Key West. Key West is an island city and part of the Florida Keys, a chain of islands that stretches for about 290 km along the southern coast of Florida. The city is located on the island of Key West, which is about 4 km wide and 6 km long. Key West is located about 150 km south of Miami and is the southernmost city in the continental United States. Key West had a brief moment of independence in U.S. history. In 1982, the island city declared independence as the "Conch Republic" (Conch-Repulik) to protest against the U.S. government. The protest arose due to the fact that border controls at the Florida Keys Bridge as part of the "War on Drugs" led to traffic disruptions and economic losses for the city. The Declaration of Independence was accompanied by a humorous act in which a man in a pirate costume threw a two-way radio keyboard at a U.S. customs officer after he announced the closure of the border. Key West then declared its independence and declared war on the United States. Although the conflict was quickly resolved, the Conch-Repulik has its place in history and is now part of the local culture and identity.