Everglades National Park: Florida's River of Grass

Everglades National Park, established on December 6, 1947, protects 1,508,938 acres of subtropical wetlands at the southern tip of the Florida peninsula. Often called the "River of Grass," the Everglades is not a swamp but rather a slow-moving river up to 60 miles wide and only inches deep, flowing from Lake Okeechobee southward to Florida Bay. It is the largest tropical wilderness in the United States and the largest wilderness of any kind east of the Mississippi River.

Introduction

The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and a Wetland of International Importance — one of only three locations in the world to hold all three designations. With approximately 1 million visitors annually, the Everglades harbors 36 federally listed threatened or endangered species, including the Florida panther, American crocodile, and West Indian manatee.

Ecosystems & Landscape

• Area: 1,508,938 acres (1.5 million acres)
• Ecosystem Types: 9 distinct habitats
• Freshwater Slough: Shark River Slough — the park's main watercourse
• Elevation Range: 0 to 8 feet above sea level

The Everglades encompasses nine distinct ecosystems within its boundaries: freshwater sloughs, marl prairies, tropical hardwood hammocks, pine rocklands, cypress swamps, coastal lowlands, mangrove forests, Florida Bay, and the marine environment. This extraordinary diversity of habitats exists within an area where the maximum elevation is just 8 feet above sea level, making the Everglades one of the flattest landscapes in any national park.

The sawgrass marshes that dominate the landscape are fed by seasonal rainfall that averages 60 inches per year. Water flows imperceptibly southward at roughly 100 feet per day through the sawgrass prairie, eventually reaching the mangrove estuaries of the Ten Thousand Islands and Florida Bay. This sheet flow of freshwater is the lifeblood of the entire Everglades ecosystem.

Wildlife

• Bird Species: Over 360 species documented
• Mammal Species: 40 species including the Florida panther
• Reptile Species: 50+ including American alligator and crocodile
• Fish Species: Over 300 in freshwater and marine environments

The Everglades is one of the most important bird habitats in North America. Over 360 species have been documented, including roseate spoonbills, wood storks, great blue herons, snail kites, and short-tailed hawks. The park's wading bird populations, though reduced from historical levels, remain among the largest in the southeastern United States, with nesting colonies containing thousands of birds.

The Everglades is the only place in the world where American alligators and American crocodiles coexist. The park supports approximately 200,000 alligators and is a critical refuge for the endangered American crocodile, with an estimated 2,000 individuals. The park is also home to roughly 120-230 Florida panthers, one of the most endangered mammals in North America.

Environmental Challenges

• Water Management: Central Everglades flow reduced by 70%
• Invasive Species: Over 200 non-native plant species
• Burmese Pythons: Estimated 100,000-300,000 in southern Florida
• Sea Level Rise: Threatens freshwater habitats with saltwater intrusion

The Everglades faces what may be the most complex set of environmental challenges of any national park. Beginning in the early 20th century, the Army Corps of Engineers constructed an extensive system of canals, levees, and water control structures that diverted water away from the Everglades for agriculture and urban development. The natural flow of water through the system has been reduced by approximately 70%.

The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, authorized in 2000, is the largest environmental restoration project in history, with an estimated cost of $23.2 billion. The plan aims to restore more natural water flow patterns while meeting the water needs of south Florida's growing population. Meanwhile, invasive Burmese pythons have devastated mammal populations, reducing raccoon, opossum, and rabbit sightings by 87-99% in some areas.

Visiting & Activities

• Best Season: December through April (dry season)
• Popular Trails: Anhinga Trail, Shark Valley, Pa-hay-okee
• Kayaking Routes: 99-mile Wilderness Waterway
• Annual Visitors: Approximately 1 million

The dry season from December through April is the best time to visit, when wildlife concentrates around remaining water sources and mosquito populations are lower. The Anhinga Trail, a 0.8-mile boardwalk near the main entrance, offers close encounters with alligators, turtles, anhingas, and herons. Shark Valley features a 15-mile tram road through the heart of the sawgrass prairie with an observation tower offering panoramic views.

The 99-mile Wilderness Waterway is one of the premier kayaking and canoeing routes in the United States, winding through mangrove tunnels and coastal backcountry from Everglades City to Flamingo. Camping is available at backcountry chickees (elevated platforms) and ground sites along the route. Airboat rides, while popular in areas outside the park, are not permitted within park boundaries to protect wildlife and the natural soundscape.

Key Facts

• The Everglades is the largest tropical wilderness in the United States, covering 1.5 million acres.
• It is one of only three sites worldwide to be a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Biosphere Reserve, and Wetland of International Importance.
• The park is the only place on Earth where American alligators and American crocodiles coexist.
• Water flow through the Everglades has been reduced by approximately 70% due to human engineering.
• The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan is the largest environmental restoration project in history at $23.2 billion.

Fun Facts

• The Everglades is technically a river — a 60-mile-wide, 6-inch-deep sheet of water flowing at about 100 feet per day.
• The park's tree islands, called hammocks, can be just a few inches higher than the surrounding marsh but support entirely different plant communities.
• Burmese pythons in the Everglades have been found with deer, alligators, and even bobcats in their stomachs.
• Flamingo, the southernmost point on the US mainland accessible by road, was named for the roseate spoonbills that early settlers mistook for flamingos.

Final Thoughts

Everglades National Park stands as both a natural wonder and a cautionary tale about the consequences of altering natural water systems. Its unique River of Grass ecosystem supports an extraordinary web of life found nowhere else on the planet. The ongoing restoration effort represents humanity's attempt to undo decades of environmental damage and ensure that this irreplaceable wetland survives for future generations.