Apalachicola Bay
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Apalachicola Bay is located on Florida's northwest coast. The Apalachicola Bay system also includes St. Georges Sound, St. Vincent Sound and East Bay, covering an area of about 208 sq. miles. Four islands St. Vincent Island to the west, Cape St. George Island and St. George Island to the south, and Dog Island to the east separate the system from the Gulf of Mexico. Water exchange occurs through Indian Pass, West Pass, East Pass and the Duer Channel. The bay has been designated as a National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Apalachicola River is the largest source of freshwater to the estuary. Combined with the Chattahoochee River and Flint River, Ochlockonee River they drain a watershed of over 20,000 sq. miles at a rate of 19,599 cubic feet per second according to the United States Geological Survey in 2002.
The region features 1,162 species of plants, and includes the largest natural stand of tupelo trees in the world. The area is also home to 308 species of birds, 186 species of fish, 57 species of mammals, and boasts the highest species density of amphibians and reptiles in all of North America, north of Mexico stated by the Apalachicola Reserve, 2002.
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