The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07.
Merritt Island
c.40 mi (60 km) long and c.6 mi (10 km) wide, E Fla., separated from the mainland by Indian River (a lagoon) and from the Canaveral peninsula on the east by Banana River (a lagoon). It produces citrus fruits and is noted for its birds and other wildlife. The Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge and the John F. Kennedy Space Center, a division of the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA), are there. Tourism is a major island industry.
