By Lynette Nylander

比斯坎湾是迈阿密市附近的一个小海湾。相对于诸多的大城市，比斯坎湾有着不同的氛围。广阔的天穹、湛蓝的海水、蜿蜒的红树、错综复杂的绿林低岛，以及天然的珊瑚礁都使得比斯坎湾国家公园散发出无尽的魅力，成为旅游者们神往的人间天堂。

Biscayne is not very far from the lights，noise and excitement of downtown Miami.But it has a very different atmosphere from the big city.Biscayne National Park was set up as a national monument in 1968.It became a national park in 1980.That year，its size also increased.The park now covers more than 70，000 hectares.

If you enjoy water，Biscayne is the park for you.Ninety-five percent of the park is water.Many kinds of animals live in these waters.Some of them are threatened or endangered.You will find the huge， gentle West Indian manatee （海牛）， the less gentle American crocodile，several kinds of sea turtles，and more than 500 species of fish.

Scientists say human history at Biscyane began more than 10，000 years ago.However， evidence of the area's earliest people is mostly underwater now，as water levels have risen over time.Within the last 3，000 years， people began to settle in the area.Scientists continue to learn about these people by examining the big hills of shells they left behind.The shells contain other waste，too， including early tools and housewares．

European explorers began arriving in the area in the early 1500s.They brought with them diseases like smallpox and measles（天花和麻疹）.Over time，these diseases killed a huge number of natives.Early explorers arrived in the area on ships.The reefs and rough waters made it difficult for ship captains to sail there.Biscayne's waters contain more than 50 shipwrecks （海难）.Scuba divers today can explore six of them．

Four ecosystems come together here，which is what makes the park so diverse.The blending ecosystems create “edge communities.” These edge communities support a huge amount of wildlife．

The underwater diversity is what attracts most people to Biscayne National Park.Many visitors come here to scuba dive in Biscayne's clear and warm waters．