3 Interesting Facts About the Florida Everglades

The Florida Everglades are an extraordinary feat of nature! Once you come here, it’s easy to see why people come from all over the world to take a journey through the wetlands. With unique vegetation and fantastic wildlife, the Everglades must be seen up close, and in person. But with as much attention as the ecosystem has been getting lately, there’s still much to learn about its contribution to South Florida and the people that live here.

Here are three things about the Florida Everglades that may surprise you:

The Everglades is Actually a River

The Florida Everglades is actually a river that’s constantly moving. This slow movement of a broad, shallow river is known as sheetflow, and gives the Everglades its nickname, River of Grass. Water leaving Lake Okeechobee may require months or years to reach its final destination, Florida Bay. This aspect has certainly been made known during the last two years of Florida’s algae problems. The Everglades form a slow-moving river that’s sixty miles wide and a hundred miles long. The Everglades “River of Grass” has shrunk over time – as much as fifty percent of the wetland habitat has been damaged by construction and related drainage projects that have been popular by the news.

8 Million Floridians Depend on Everglades for Drinking Water

As the largest subtropical wetland in North America, the health and stability of the Florida Everglades is a big deal. But aside from providing shelter and protection for scores of wildlife, the Everglades is a vital resource to people, as well and one out of every three Floridians rely on the Everglades for drinking water.

Wild Fire is common in the Everglades – and Critical to the Ecosystem

When most people think of the Everglades, they imagine swampland and wet, murky waters. While that’s true, there’s also a very distinctive dry season where weather patterns create drought like conditions that are perfect for fire. What many people don’t realize is that fire is actually an essential part of maintenance, clearing the way for a complex system of interdependent ecosystems to thrive.

The Florida Everglades are complex, but it’s this complexity that makes it so fantastic.  Not many natural environs host panthers, crocodiles and alligators together. The first two are endangered animals that the Florida Everglades ecosystem protects. But with nine distinct habitats, the Everglades is also home to over 16 species of birds, a variety of mammals, reptiles, plants and scores of unique flora. America’s wetland is truly amazing, and a fantastic learning environment for adventurous families, photographers and nature lovers. If you’re interested in learning more and a journey through the Everglades sounds like fun, a narrated tour may be the answer. Visit Florida Seminole Tourism  to join in the fun and adventure that is the Florida Everglades!

About Florida Seminole Tourism (FST)

The Seminole Tribe of Florida is a federally recognized Indian Tribe. FST is a top Florida Everglades adventure, learning and camping destination. We share the excitement and wonder of the Florida Everglades to visitors from around the globe. Our award-winning Everglades attractions including Billie Swamp Safari, Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, and Big Cypress RV Resort & Campground.