619: "Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge"
Interesting Things with JC #619: "Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge" is a protected area located on Florida's Space Coast, encompassing 140,000 acres of diverse habitats and ecosystems.
Established in 1963, the refuge is home to over 1,500 species of plants and animals, including threatened and endangered species such as the Florida scrub jay and West Indian manatee.
The refuge also played a vital role in the U.S. space program, serving as the launch site for Apollo missions and other historic spaceflights.