2 of 6

Write now Article Tools

Page 3 of 4

Homestead Fl. - Shark Valley Visitor Center, Shark Valley - Gulf Coast Visitor Center, Everglades City, Fl.

3) The Shark Valley area is perhaps what most visitors think of when they think of the Everglades, as it is surrounded by a seemingly eternity of sawgrass in all directions. Alligators and wading birds often come within feet of visitors, and occasionally, a lazy alligator will block the road.

4) The open waters of Florida Bay and the Ten Thousand Islands represent roughly one-third of the park's total acreage. Boats are the perfect way to explore some of the more remote areas of the park, but it is the task of skilled boatmen to navigate its waters.

SIDEBAR: The Flora and Fauna of the Everglades National Park

The flora of the park is of tropical nature and many of the plant species are identical of plant life of the West Indies. There are thirty species of the orchid flower, eight different types of palm trees including the royal and the coconut, and many tropical trees such as rubber, gumbo, mahogany, Jamaica dogwood plus a few northern tree species such as live oak, red maple, and ash. In places frequently flooded with fresh water there are stands of cypress together with lily pads: algae thrive in the water. The higher areas on rocky ground are spread with sparse growth of slender Caribbean pine, beneath which is mixture of saw palmettos and of many shrub varieties. There are large expanses of sawgrass and other species of related sedges, seasonally submerged under a shallow sheet of slow moving water.

Mammals are sheltered by the dense growth of tree and shrubs. There is a large population of otters, and the rare black bear and the cougar (Florida panther) are protected wildlife. The Seminole white deer are fairly numerous along with an abundance of small rodents and a sizable population of bobcats. The most frequently observed animal in the park is the raccoon.

Reptiles of different varieties and size are well represented in the park the fresh waters have their quota of alligators, and the salt waters harbor a much rarer species of crocodile. Alligators are eagerly sought by visitors to the Everglades National Park who are anxious to see and photograph this unique creature.

Twenty to thirty species of the snake family inhabit the park; only a few are venomous, which includes the rattlesnake, cottonmouth, and the coral. Some of the species of the snakes are beautifully colored, while other are drab colored and blend in perfectly with their background. Largest

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Guide to Everglades National Park, Florida?
We want to hear your view. Write now!