Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park is 1.5 million acres in size and includes 20 percent of the original Florida everglades. It provides habitat and protection for several endangered species like the American crocodile, the Florida manatee, and the Florida panther (very rare). One species I could have done without was the mosquito. A great way to see some of the park is to take a boat tour, which I did on a boat called the "Pelican" during my visit in 1999.
Park sign
"Pelican" Back Country Cruise
Waiting for the Cruise
Under way at last
Looks like a swamp
Our first alligator sighting
Of course we need a few more alligator photos.
Gator in the Reeds
Closer...
Closer still...
Another Gator
And another
And a few other photos
Softshell Turtle
Softshell Turtle
Rock Reef Pass
one of the higher points in the park
If you have limited time to spend in Everglades NP then Royal Palm is the place to go. The Royal Palm Information Station (aka Royal Palm Visitor Center) is located about a mile from the Homestead park entrance on FL State Road 9336. Once you get there walk along the Anhinga Trail, a short (8/10 mile), round trip hike through a sawgrass marsh. You will see alligators, birds, and weird plants and insects.
Boardwalk along the Anhinga Trail
Anhinga
Probably an immature Great Blue Heron
Heron eyeing an alligator
Lubber Grasshopper
Anhinga
Striped Mud Turtle? covered with algae
Bromeliads
And last but not least...
And so we bid adieu to the Everglades. Background content obtained from Wikipedia.
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