Alligator Reef

Alligator Reef is a coral reef located within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. It lies to the southeast of Upper Matecumbe Key. This reef lies within a Sanctuary Preservation Area (SPA).

It was named after the United States Navy schooner USS Alligator, which was wrecked on the reef after an engagement with pirate ships in 1822. The Alligator Reef Light stands on the reef.

Approximate coordinates: 24°50′50″N 080°37′11″W / 24.84722°N 80.61972°W / 24.84722; -80.61972Coordinates: 24°50′50″N 080°37′11″W / 24.84722°N 80.61972°W / 24.84722; -80.61972

Gallery

• 

  Fish beneath the Alligator Reef Light in 2006

See also

• Action of 9 November 1822

External links

• Barbara H. Lidz, Christopher D. Reich, and Eugene A. Shinn. Systematic Mapping of Bedrock and Habitats along the Florida Reef Tract—Central Key Largo to Halfmoon Shoal (Gulf of Mexico). USGS Professional Paper 1751 Tile 2, Davis and Alligator Reefs
• Benthic Habitat Map

References

• NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Maps, Florida Keys East
• NOAA website on Alligator Reef
• NOAA Navigational Chart 11449

Corals and coral reefs
Stony corals	Scleractinia Blue coral Brain coral Elkhorn coral Hermatypic coral Chalice coral Pillar coral Staghorn coral Table coral
Soft corals	Alcyonacea Black coral Bamboo coral Organ pipe coral Sea fans Sea pens
Coral reefs	Atoll reef Cay Fringing reef Microatoll Coral reef fish Census of Coral Reefs The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs Catlin Seaview Survey
Coral regions	List of reefs Deep-water coral African coral reefs Amazon Reef Andros, Bahamas Belize Barrier Reef Coral Sea Islands Coral Triangle Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Great Barrier Reef Maldives Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System New Caledonia Barrier Reef Pulley Ridge Raja Ampat Islands Red Sea Southeast Asian coral reefs
Coral diseases	Coral bleaching Black band disease Skeletal eroding band White band disease White pox disease
Protection	Coral Reef Alliance Coral reef protection Green Fins International Society for Reef Studies Project AWARE Reef Check Reef Ball
Other	Artificial reef Aquaculture of coral Coral dermatitis Precious coral Coral rag Coral reef organizations Coral sand Coralline alga Environmental issues with coral reefs Fire coral Reef resilience Rugosa (extinct) Symbiodinium Tabulata