Do You Know the Wonders of The Everglades?

There are so many advantages to living in Florida: terrific weather, fun and interesting sights, great tax benefits, cultural venues, and wonderful natural attractions, such as Everglades National Park.

The Everglades, with 1.5 million acres, is the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. Here are some easy-to-read facts about this incredibly special place:

•Everglades National Park is the largest protected wilderness area east of the Mississippi River.

•The Everglades is not a swamp. Technically, it’s a river, flowing southwest at the slow rate of about one-quarter mile per day.

•On average, the Everglades is about six inches below sea level.

•Most of the marsh in the Everglades is covered with sawgrass - a spiny, rush-like plant with serrated leaves.

•The Everglades used to spread from Lake Okeechobee in central Florida all the way down to Florida Bay. Now only 25% of the historic Everglades remains.

•Due to the global significance of Everglades National Park, it has been designated a Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International Importance.

•The Everglades is home to many rare and endangered animals.

•The park contains more than 1,000 species of plants.

•There are more insects in the Everglades than any other group of animals.

•In the 1800s, John James Audubon noted that the sky was often darkened by the flocks of numerous birds, but since the early 20th century, around 93% of the wading bird population has vanished.

•The Everglades ecosystem provides a refuge to over 350 documented species of birds.

•The pink coloration of the Roseate Spoonbill comes from a red pigment, related to Vitamin A, found in some crustaceans that they eat.

•A pair of endangered wood storks needs about 440 pounds of fish during a breeding season to feed themselves and their young.

•Of the 27 species of snakes in Everglades National Park, only four are venomous – the cottonmouth, the diamondback rattlesnake, the dusky pygmy rattlesnake, and the coral snake.

•There are thousands of alligators in the Everglades, as well as a large number of pythons thoughtlessly dumped by pet owners, which are becoming an unwelcome ecological problem.

•The everglades have been inhabited by Native Americans for thousands of years.

•The high-and-dry tree islands of the Everglades are called tropical hardwood hammocks. Other natural features and ecosystems include pineland, mangrove, freshwater slough and marl prairie, cypress, marine and estuarine, and the coastal lowlands.

•Limestone is the porous, sedimentary rock found in the Everglades, which is made of calcium that contain fossils of sea life - evidence of ancient seas that once covered the area.

There are Ranger-guided tram tours that show you all the wonders of this special place, as well as several popular boat tours. Bicycle rentals are available in some spots. Other outdoor activities include hiking, camping, fishing, boating, and canoe and kayak trails.

The year-round semi-tropical climate, moderate rainfall, abundant sunshine, freshwater lakes, Atlantic and Gulf coast beaches, and escape from snow and ice all combine to make Florida a mini-paradise and an ideal place to live. Plan your trip now and don’t forget to tour The Everglades. You’ve never seen anything like it.

The Everglades are a beautiful asset of Florida. If you would like to turn Florida from just a distant vacation paradise to home, I suggest that you check out these Florida Homes. A great city to visit in Florida is Boynton Beach. Canyon Trails is a gorgeous community located on prime Boynton Beach Real Estate. There are also other great Boynton Beach Homes for Sale outside of Canyon Trails.

Florida Historic Sites - Famous Theme Parks in Florida - Florida Museum of History