Everglades

The Everglades is a natural region of tropical wetlands in southern Florida, United States. It covers about 1.5 million acres (6,000 square kilometers) and is characterized as a slow-moving river of grass, with sawgrass marshes, mangrove forests, and open water. The system flows from Lake Okeechobee southward to Florida Bay, shaping a unique ecosystem influenced by seasonal rainfall and tidal exchange.

The Everglades hosts a diverse array of species, including the American alligator and the American crocodile, the Florida panther, and the West Indian manatee, along with numerous birds such as herons and roseate spoonbills. The region contains habitats such as the Ten Thousand Islands, mangrove forests, cypress swamps, and coastal estuaries. Indigenous peoples, including the Calusa, inhabited the region before European contact; in the 20th century the area was protected as a national park to safeguard its ecological and cultural resources.

The Everglades face threats from urban and agricultural development, water diversion, pollution, invasive species such as Burmese python and Melaleuca, and climate change. Restoration efforts, notably the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) begun in the 2000s, aim to restore natural water flows and improve water quality. Everglades National Park was established in 1947 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, reflecting its global significance.