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(The Florida Everglades course south from the vast 700 square mile Lake Okeechobee, nourished by the rain soaked Kissimmee River Basin, the Everglades is a wide slow meandering river of marsh and sawgrass covering some 4,500 square miles, flowing quietly, peacefully, towards the mangrove estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico. Thousands of species of plants, birds, animals, fish and reptiles make their home in the Everglades. Thus the landscape of Everglades National Park is utterly unique among American vistas; it is quite a remarkable site for its biological phenomena.)

Throughout history the crocodile and its cousin the alligator stood for evil, mourning, punishment even for worship. "There under the thorny lotus he lies, hidden in the reeds and marsh... (Job 40:21) This passage refers to the crocodile, which at one time made its habitat in the Land of Israel in a river aptly call the Crocodile River (Zirka Arabic). The Roman naturalists and historians Pliny and Strabo saw them and even the Crusaders took care in crossing that river. In Ancient Egypt the Nile crocodile was venerated as a symbol of sunrise and became a hieroglyph for this.

Their cousin, the alligator (Alligatoride) an anglicized name called by the early Spanish explorers el legato' (the lizard) is characterized by a wider snout and eyes. The reptile tends to be dark in color, often nearly black but color is very dependent on the water. Algae-laden waters produce greener alligators; alligators from waters with a lot of tannic acid from overhanging trees are often darker. The upper teeth of the reptile can be seen with the jaws closed. The eyes of a large alligator will glow red and those of a smaller one will glow green when a light is shined on them.

Though reduced in numbers, the alligator makes their habitat in the Everglades more than anywhere in North America. More than any other animal or reptile, the alligator has been the symbol of both Florida and the Everglades. In the past years the alligator was considered one of the endangered species in America. Today the reptile is protected by law and is making a comeback.

When my wife and I were touring Florida during the winter season, a state noted for its hospitality, sand and sun, we became smitten (not bitten) by the alligator. Off course Florida is also noted for its many theme parks, but as retired folk we let the youngsters enjoy the wonders of Disney Land. We simply wanted a view of the state's natural surroundings and its fauna and flora.

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