Also known as Laguna del Espiritu Santo, River Glades, Pa-hay-okee, and the River of Grass, the Everglades is a subtropical wetland that stretches from Orlando to the bottom of Florida.
The Kissimmee River flows into Lake Okeechobee which, in addition to a fun name, is extremely shallow - on average 9 feet with a maximum depth of 15 feet. From there water continues to flow down the peninsula of Florida at a rate of about a half mile per day in what is known as a sheetflow. According to Wikipedia, "water leaving Lake Okeechobee may require months or years to reach its final destination, Florida Bay."
This wetlands is home to wildlife such as the great egret (above), in addition to alligators, crocodiles, manatees, bottlenose dolphins, and even the Florida panther.
Not only animals, but also a wide array of trees thrive in this area. Mangrove swamps, sawgrass prairies, and Big Cypress swamp thrive in this nearly 11,000 square mile area (which is half the area it once was).
Unfortunately, for many years now, pets have been released or escaped into this area, including Burmese Pythons which thrive in the climate.
On a final note, it is home to the smallest post office in the U.S.
The Kissimmee River flows into Lake Okeechobee which, in addition to a fun name, is extremely shallow - on average 9 feet with a maximum depth of 15 feet. From there water continues to flow down the peninsula of Florida at a rate of about a half mile per day in what is known as a sheetflow. According to Wikipedia, "water leaving Lake Okeechobee may require months or years to reach its final destination, Florida Bay."
This wetlands is home to wildlife such as the great egret (above), in addition to alligators, crocodiles, manatees, bottlenose dolphins, and even the Florida panther.
Not only animals, but also a wide array of trees thrive in this area. Mangrove swamps, sawgrass prairies, and Big Cypress swamp thrive in this nearly 11,000 square mile area (which is half the area it once was).
Unfortunately, for many years now, pets have been released or escaped into this area, including Burmese Pythons which thrive in the climate.
On a final note, it is home to the smallest post office in the U.S.
If you come visit us then you will have a chance to see these places.
ReplyDeleteIn some cases, it may be better to be a virtual vacationer, since I feel more comfortable/less creepy looking at the Everglades on the computer screen that I think I would if I were actually there.
ReplyDeleteI've lived here my whole life ;)
ReplyDelete