Fun Facts about the Florida Everglades
The Florida Everglades National Park is incredible, and it’s easy to see why people travel from all over the world to take an Everglades tour through the wetlands. The Everglades is incredible to see in person, with their unique vegetation and exciting wildlife. Despite the recent focus on the ecosystem, there is still much to learn about its contribution to South Florida and beyond. Here are three fascinating facts about the Everglades gleaned from park experts that may surprise you.
- The Everglades is a river: Believe it or not, the Everglades is a constantly moving river, which is ideal for an Everglades airboat tour. Water trickles from Lake Okeechobee to the south, forming a slow-moving river sixty miles wide and a hundred miles long. However, the “River of Grass” is much smaller than it used to be. Construction and related drainage projects have destroyed up to 50% of the wetland habitat.
- It is the only location on the planet where alligators and crocodiles coexist: The Everglades are home to both crocodiles and gators. Crocs are mostly found in small numbers along the ‘glades’ coast, whereas alligators prefer to stay inland, near freshwater. Despite this, the Everglades ecosystem provides a natural habitat for both, and it is the only place on the planet where these reptiles coexist in the wild.
- There are 9 habitats providing a home to 16 endangered or threatened species: The Florida Everglades may be complex, but it’s that complexity that makes them so spectacular. The Florida panther and alligator are just two of the endangered animals that the Everglades ecosystem protects. With nine distinct habitats, the Everglades is also home to more than 16 species of birds, a variety of mammals, reptiles, plants, and a wealth of unique flora. America’s wetlands are spectacular and a fantastic learning environment for adventurous families, photographers, and nature lovers alike.
If you want to learn more and a trip through the Everglades sounds like fun, a narrated tour could be the answer! Visit our Best Everglades Tours in Miami, featuring 60-minute airboat ride, live alligator shows and a once-in-a-lifetime encounter with Florida’s finest.