National Marine Sanctuary
Flower Garden Banks
About this sanctuary
One hundred miles off the Texas and Louisiana coasts and the only sanctuary in the Gulf, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary is home to an ecosystem influenced by water from 31 states and Canada.
Its deep water habitat includes salt domes, which are underwater mountains, and the reef-building corals that live on top of those formations. Those who visit for sportfishing and diving can see coral heads bigger than cars and a bounty of wildlife including whales, sea turtles, mollusks, crustaceans, birds, rays, and hundreds of species of fish. Below the coral cap in deeper water are additional species including gorgonians and black corals.
Travel guide coming soon
The Foundation is actively expanding sanctuary content. This page will grow as the Foundation publishes travel guide entries, related stories, and event calendars for Flower Garden Banks.
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