The Everglades National Park is known for its vast wildlife. There are hundreds of bird species, many of which are on the endangered or threatened list. You'll see lots of large wading birds, such as the roseate spoonbill, great blue heron, white ibis and a variety of egrets, as well as the osprey.
The Everglades' marine life includes more than 200,000 alligators as well as American crocodiles. In abundance are fish such as large mouth bass, redfish, snapper, blue gil and catfish.
Other wildlife in the Everglades includes the white-tailed deer, more than 28 different snakes - a few which are venomous - and let us not forget, the endangered Florida panther.
Rates: (includes park admission, airboat ride and wildlife show)
Adults: $20 Children: $10
The Everglades is a unique wetland ecosystem in southern Florida. It was formed over thousands of years from the overflow of heavy rainfall into Lake Okeechobee. The Everglades extends southwest from Lake Okeechobee to the shores of the Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, covering 5,000 square miles and lying in a shallow basin of limestone. Its slow flow of water supports grasslands, thick forests and diverse groups of animal, marine and bird life.
The swampy Everglades is often referred to as the "River of Grass" because of its endless prairies of sawgrass that rise 3 to 10 feet above the surface of the water. The sawgrass is often so dense that travel is possible only through traversing natural water passages. Other than sawgrass, the lush vegetation of the Everglades also consists of mangrove, cypress, palms, pines and hardwood hammocks.
The Everglades are also known for its rich bird life, particularly large wading birds, such as the roseate spoonbill, great blue heron and a variety of egrets. Marine life includes alligators, American crocodiles, soft shelled turtles and fish such as red teriera, large mouth bass, redfish, and catfish. Other wildlife in the Everglades includes deer, more than 28 different snakes, a few which are venomous, and also, the endangered Florida panther.
The Everglades has been inhabited by native people for thousands of years. During much of the 19th century, the marsh was a hiding place for the Seminole people during their conflicts with the United States government who was intent on displacing them to Oklahoma.
Today, the Miccosukee and Seminole people are the primary residents of the Everglades. Agriculture, the leading economic activity in the region, is confined to the northern area of the Everglades just south of Lake Okeechobee. Here on rich, drained land, farmers grow sugarcane, fruit and vegetables. To the south and west of Lake Okeechobee, tourism is the main economic activity where visitors are drawn to places, such as Gator Park, to observe the unique and natural beauty of the Everglades.
Gator Park Airboat Tours24050 SW 8 Street
Miami, FL 33187
Map305-559-2255
www.GatorPark.comHours of OperationDaily: 9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
