Everglades National Park - A Day in the Swamp

Snowy Egret

The Everglades park was created in 1947 as the first national park to protect a threatened ecological system.  It is a World Heritage Site.  Only 20% of the original Glades exists after years of drainage and alterations.

Alligator vs. Crocodile

There are thousands of alligators in South Florida. They are protected in certain areas due to their close resemblance to the endangered American alligator.Alligators play an integral role in the Everglades ecosystem.

El largto!

No park elevation tops over eight feet above sea level. This shallow "River of Grass" is 50 miles wide and flows slowly toward the gulf. The Everglades are described as having only two seasons, the wet and the dry.

Boardwalks for Safety

The Everglades is the largest subtropical preserve in North America. This region's only source of water is the rain that falls on it.  Extensive canal and levee systems now shunt off much of this water before it reaches Everglades National Park.

The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan will take 30 years to accomplish.  The plan is to return water to more natural patterns of quantity, timing and distribution of water throughout the South Florida ecosystem.  It is important to address water quality as the waters return to the natural system.

I was surprised to see how clean and pure the water is in the Glades, not swampy green like I envisioned.

After listening to the Ranger presentation, I have a new appreciation for alligators, which are black and not green as I learned.

Biologically unique and ecologically irreplaceable!

Anhinga Bird

The Anhinga bird doesn't have waterproof feathers so it must dry its feathers with wings spread and feathers fanned open. It is also known as the snake bird as only its colored neck appears above water when swimming and it looks like a snake ready to strike.