Matanzas Bay

• Salt Run: an inlet of Anastasia Island creating a peninsula of the eastern portion of Anastasia State Park.
• Matanzas River: a tidal channel; part of the Intracoastal Waterway which flows in an easterly direction then south for approximately 15 miles, separating Anastasia Island from the mainland. Another tidal channel the San Sebastian River flows westerly from the Matanzas River creating a peninsula of the original Spanish era section of St. Augustine.
• Hospital Creek: tidal channel flowing north from confluence of Matanzas Bay and North River. Creek in which Pedro Menéndez de Avilés sailed into and initially established St. Augustine on its mainland shore.
• Tolomato River : tidal channel flowing north
• Municipalities: St. Augustine and Vilano Beach.
• Tides: The average fall of the tides in Matanzas Bay is 4.5 feet between high and low tide.
• Bridges: State road A1A crosses the bay via the Bridge of Lions which connects the mainland portion of St. Augustine with the portion of the city located on Anastasia Island.
• Wetlands: A large portion of the tidal wetlands directly fronting the bay have been obliterated due to construction of the seawall in the old quarter of St. Augustine and the construction of Davis Shores a residential development created on reclaimed land on Anastasia Island and a subsequent seawall. The portions of the Intracoastal Waterway connected to Matanzas Bay have wetlands of varying amounts and degrees of natural state.
• Parks: Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Spanish era fort completed in 1675 and Anastasia State Park.