Everglades National Park

Great Egret, Ardea alba
National Park Service Photo by Rodney Cammauf

• Everglades National Park is located in south Florida
• Covers 1,507,850 acres
• Established in 1947
• Everglades is a UNESCO international biosphere reserve and a world heritage site
• Only place where alligators and crocodiles live side-by-side
• Nicknamed the "River of Grass"
• The Everglades area originally spanned from Lake Okeechobee to the southern tip of Florida, but it has shrunk due to industrialization. Even today, the Everglades is still shrinking because less and less water is available to maintain the ecosystem.
• 1st national park aimed at preserving an ecosystem rather than providing scenic views for visitors
• Served as a refuge for Native Americans during the Seminole Wars
• 2 Seasons
  • Dry: December to April
    • When most visitors go and when there are the most activities
  • Wet: May to November
    • Very uncomfortable to visit due to large numbers of mosquitoes and humid weather

American Crocodile, Crocodylus acutus
National Park Service Photo by Rodney Cammauf