| Page Views: 17,411 Last Visit to Everglades National Park: February, 2000 | Everglades National Park by Kimberlyann by KimberlyAnn - last update: Mar 30, 2004 |
| Alligator, Sometimes Called Gators by the Locals |
Everglades National Park, although a large park of 1,506,539 acres, only encompasses one-fifth of the Florida Everglades. This national park is the most famous wetland preserve in the United States, being the only subtropical preserve in North America, a flooded grassland that is home to many tropical and subtropical trees and plants, more than 300 bird species, 150 fish species, and 60 federally listed threatened or endangered species including the Florida panther and the American crocodile. Much of the park is a region of mangrove waterways and sawgrass marsh dotted with hammocks and salt prairies. The Everglades has three international designations: International Biosphere Reserve, World Heritage Site, and Wetland of International Significance. But this park is in trouble. The numbers of wading birds nesting in colonies have declined 93% since the 1930s. The rains still fall in south Florida today, but the extensive canal and levee systems have shut off the life-giving rainwater before it can reach the national park and the remainder of the Everglades “River of Grass.” Sometimes the water control structures are shut preventing the much-needed water from reaching the park, and at other times they are opened and floodwaters enter the Everglades damaging nests and/or eggs of birds. Along with this pollutants from agriculture and other human activities are damaging the ecosystem. The Everglades Coalition, an alliance of more that 42 local, state, and national organizations such as World Wildlife Fund, is working on solutions for the problem. The National Park Service and the State of Florida have agreed to be partners in enforcing existing water quality regulations and will continue to address water quality problems. The park service is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other water management jurisdictions to help save the Everglades. Hopefully with the hard work of many interested organizations and individuals a solution can be found to save this wonderful land for future generations. |
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| Pros: | "This is a wonderful area for bird watching, observing alligators, fishing, hiking, biking, or boating." | | Cons: | "The Park is very hot in the summers, and at times mosquitoes and other insects can be bothersome." | | In A Nutshell: | "Although the ecology of this park is threatened by human development, and the numbers of wildlife have declined, there are still plenty of wildlife to enjoy, and trails to explore." |
KimberlyAnn's Everglades National Park Travel Tips
 Comments for KimberlyAnn about Everglades National Park | | | | |
pchamlis Wed Jun 3, 2009 17:39 UTC
GREAT look at natural Florida, one of our state's precious commodities. Those are really becoming rare in south Florida. Up north, we have more such areas, but they too continue to disappear. Great page, Kimberly. | deecat Tue May 5, 2009 00:27 UTC
Just terrific! So thorough and helpful; yet, very interesting. We visited Shark Valley while staying in Naples during the month of January. Loved it. The trail descriptions were fantastic. | JudyinPA Tue May 15, 2007 19:43 UTC
Enjoy birdwatching and hope it is still a home for the birds once the fires are stopped. I'm sure we will get there during the cold months here. | grandmaR Thu Apr 19, 2007 04:46 UTC
Flamingo Lodge is still closed because of H. Wilma - according to their website |
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