Blowing the conch shell was a means for escaped slaves to communicate across the mountains and dense forests they ran away to. They had complex coding through the varied conch shell sounds that slave owners could not understand the meanings behind the conch horn. A story via oral history of Saint Lucia states that slaves were told when they heard the sound of the conch - they knew that they were free. The conch shell was then sounded on Emancipation day across the valleys. #knowyourcaribbean #co

🐚 Florida Horse Conch 🐚 The Florida Horse Conch is the largest native seashell in North America and Florida’s official state shell. These giants can grow over 2 feet long and are most often found along the Gulf Coast—especially around Marco Island and the Ten Thousand Islands. Horse conchs are living animals, not just shells. When alive, they have a striking orange body and are active predators, feeding on other mollusks. Because of their size and importance to the ecosystem, living horse conc

Love this …… Florida Fighting Conch . Come shell with us let us help you find the Shell of a Lifetime ™️ 🐚 🐚 🐚 Only Collect Empty Shells 🐚 🐚 🐚 🐚 #shells🐚 #fun #shellmarcospaz #shellkiceisland #shellmarcoisland #treasureseekersshelltours #collector #waves #sun #sand #mangroves #woods #naturelover #natureshots #naturephoto #natureshots #surfs | Treasure Seekers Shell Tours

Highlights from the 59th Conch Shell Blowing Contest, better known as "The Conch Honk," held March 4, 2023 in Key West. The men’s division winner was Brian Cardis of Macon, Georgia, who tooted an excerpt from Jimmy Buffett’s hit, “Fins.” Carol Whiteley of Ontario, Canada, blew a long sturdy blast on her shell to take the women’s division title. The quirky contest is staged each year at the Oldest House & Gardens Key West by the Old Island Restoration Foundation. #keywest #floridakeys #jimmybuffe