Everglades National Park

Everglades National Park is a massive tropical wilderness located in Florida. It protects the southern twenty percent of the original Everglades ecosystem. This park is the largest tropical wilderness in the United States. It is also the largest wilderness of any kind east of the Mississippi River.

Currently, about one million people visit the park every year. It ranks as the third-largest national park in the contiguous United States. It follows Yellowstone and Death Valley in total size. Unlike many parks that protect mountains or canyons, this park was created to preserve a fragile ecosystem.

The park functions through a unique hydrographic system. A slow-moving river flows from Lake Okeechobee toward Florida Bay. This water moves almost imperceptibly across the landscape.

The terrain is relatively flat and sits on a limestone shelf. This limestone is highly permeable, meaning it has many tiny holes. These holes allow the ground to act like a giant sponge. Most of the water enters the system through rainfall. This water is stored in the limestone or moves into the Biscayne Aquifer. This underground reservoir provides much of the fresh water for South Florida.

Soil types in the Everglades depend on how much water is present. There are two main types of soil: peat and marl. Peat forms in areas that remain flooded for more than nine months a year. It is created by many years of decomposing plant matter. Marl is a grayish mud found in areas flooded for six months or less. It forms from dried periphyton, which are chunks of algae and microorganisms.

These soil types determine which plants can grow in specific areas.

The National Park Service recognizes nine distinct, interdependent ecosystems. One major type is the freshwater slough. These are low-lying drainage channels with very slow-moving water. They often feature sawgrass growing several feet tall.

Another ecosystem is the freshwater marl prairie. These areas lack the constant movement of sloughs. In these prairies, alligators play a vital role. They burrow into the mud during the dry season. These alligator holes create pools that help fish and amphibians survive until the wet season returns.

Tropical hardwood hammocks provide a different habitat. These are often the only areas of dry land in the park. They consist of islands of trees that rise slightly above the surrounding grass.

Large southern live oaks often form a thick canopy here. Under this canopy, animals find shelter among scrub bushes. These hammocks can appear in many places, including near mangroves or pinelands. They often look like teardrops when viewed from above due to water movement.

The history of the Everglades involves a struggle between development and preservation. Humans have lived in this region for thousands of years. However, in 1882, plans were made to drain the wetlands for agriculture. As the Miami metropolitan area grew, water flow from Lake Okeechobee was diverted. This was done to support urban expansion. To protect the vanishing ecosystem, the park was established in 1934. It was officially dedicated as a national park in 1947.

Today, the park is a global site of immense biological importance. It is the most significant breeding ground for tropical wading birds in North America. It also contains the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere.

The park hosts 350 bird species and 300 species of fish. It is home to 40 mammal species and 50 reptile species. Thirty-six species are currently threatened or protected. These include the Florida panther, the American crocodile, and the West Indian manatee.

The Everglades holds a rare level of international recognition. In 1976, UNESCO declared it a biosphere reserve. In 1979, it became a World Heritage Site. In 1987, the Ramsar Convention listed it as a Wetland of International Importance. The Everglades is one of only three locations in the world to appear on all three lists. However, the ecosystem faces modern challenges. Scientists have observed rising water levels in inland sites. This rise matches regional sea-level rise, making low-elevation habitats vulnerable to saltwater intrusion.