Islamorada
The Village of Islands, sportfishing capital of the world.
- Population
- 7,107 (2020 census)
- Incorporated
- December 31, 1997
- Name
- “Purple island”
- Tides
- Two highs, two lows, uneven
Then
- 1500s
Spanish explorers call it isla morada, often translated as “purple island.”
- 1935
The Labor Day Hurricane strikes almost directly, killing 423 people. A memorial at mile marker 82 holds the ashes of more than 300 of them.
- 1997
Five islands incorporate together as Islamorada, Village of Islands.
- 2005
The History of Diving Museum opens.
Now
Islamorada sits between the Atlantic and Florida Bay, on the migration routes of big game fish, which is why it calls itself the Sportfishing Capital of the World.
Robbie's Marina, where visitors feed tarpon off the dock, and Betsy the giant lobster are roadside landmarks along the Overseas Highway.
On the water
From NOAA's predictions for Islamorada, Upper Matecumbe Key, Florida Bay, FL over the next 365 days. Heights are in feet above mean lower low water (MLLW).
- Pattern
- Two highs and two lows a day, one noticeably bigger than the other
- Typical daily range
- 0.7 ft
- Biggest swing
- 1.0 ft on Nov 24
- Smallest swing
- 0.2 ft on May 27
- Highest high
- 0.9 ft, Oct 29 at 12:28 AM
- Lowest low
- −0.3 ft, Jan 21 at 4:54 AM
34 tide stations around Islamorada
- Islamorada, Upper Matecumbe Key, Florida Bayin town
- Upper Matecumbe Key, Hawk Channel0.7 mi
- Little Basin, Upper Matecumbe Key, Florida Bay1.0 mi
- Whale Harbor Channel, Hwy. 1 bridge, Windley Key1.5 mi
- Whale Harbor, Windley Key, Hawk Channel1.6 mi
- Shell Key Channel, Florida Bay2.2 mi
- Upper Matecumbe Key, west end, Hawk Channel2.7 mi
- Shell Key, northwest side, Lignumvitae Basin2.8 mi
- Snake Creek, Hwy. 1 bridge, Windley Key3.1 mi
- Snake Creek, USCG Station, Plantation Key3.3 mi
Show all 34 stations
- Lignumvitae Key, NE side, Florida Bay4.5 mi
- Indian Key, Hawk Channel4.5 mi
- Yacht Harbor, Cowpens Anchorage, Plantation Key4.7 mi
- Lignumvitae Key, west side, Florida Bay5.1 mi
- East Key, southern end, Florida Bay5.1 mi
- Alligator Reef, Hawk Channel5.2 mi
- Crane Keys, north side, Florida Bay5.6 mi
- Indian Key Anchorage, Lower Matecumbe Key6.1 mi
- Matecumbe Bight, Lower Matecumbe Key, Fla. Bay6.9 mi
- Matecumbe Harbor, Lower Matecumbe Key, Fla. Bay8.6 mi
- Channel Two, east, Lower Matecumbe Key, Fla. Bay9.3 mi
- Channel Two, west side, Hawk Channel9.7 mi
- Channel Five, east side, Hawk Channel10.6 mi
- Channel Five, west side, Hawk Channel11.2 mi
- Jewfish Hole, Long Key, Florida Bay12.2 mi
- Long Key Bight, Long Key13.1 mi
- Long Key Lake, Long Key13.5 mi
- Long Key, western end16.2 mi
- Conch Key, eastern end18.5 mi
- Toms Harbor Cut20.0 mi
- Duck Key, Hawk Channel21.0 mi
- Toms Harbor Channel, Hwy. 1 bridge21.1 mi
- Grassy Key, north side, Florida Bay22.2 mi
- Grassy Key, south side, Hawk Channel23.8 mi