1. The Eve r g l a d e s
Na t i o n a l Pa r k
By: Nate Wagner
The Everglades is a vast region of saw grass and mangroves that covers 1.5 million
acres of land in Florida. As you read my paper, you will learn all about the Everglades.
The Everglades was established in 1947. It was made a national park because the
government wanted to preserve the beautiful flora and fauna of the Everglades.
The Everglades floor is rock hard, but is made of porous limestone. The area
receives 1,524 mm of rain per year, which means it stores a lot of groundwater. This
region is home to many alligators, and over 25 species of mammals. Some mammals
that live in this region are the muskrat, the deer, and the Florida panther. There is also
over 1,000 species of plants,27 species of snake and over 350 species of birds. A bird
that is in the Everglades is the Winged Teal. Most of the animals in the Everglades live In
the 800 miles of marine bottom.
There has a lot of history and culture. For example, the Expansion Act for the
Everglades added107,000 acres of land to it. The Everglades has the largest amount of
saw grass in North America. Today, people observe the Everglades by taking boat trips,
having boardwalks, and there even is a 99 mile canoe route named Wilderness
Waterway.
The everglades has faced many challenges. One, is invasive plants that are killing
the native ones. Two, is that 93% of Wading Bird population has vanished along with a
lot of other animals such as the American Crocodile. Also, invasive plants cost millions
of dollars on agriculture, forestry, and roadway management. Finally 20% of plants are
non-native.
In my paper, you have learned about The Everglades. All of its saw grass, mangroves,
animals, plants, and invasive plants. But most of all, the mere size of it!