| Just about an hour's drive from the bustle of | | | | swampland this is not in fact the case and it also |
| Miami you will find one of America's most unusual | | | | includes an area called Pine Forest which is the |
| national parks covering more than one and a half | | | | higher areas of the park and consists of species |
| million acres of southern Florida. The Everglades | | | | such as slash pine, palmetto and others. |
| National Park is one of the most diverse | | | | On of the most beautiful areas of the park in to |
| ecosystems to be found anywhere in the world | | | | be found close to Mahogany Hammock where a |
| and is simple a wonderland for wildlife. | | | | short hiking trail offers a wonderful view of trees |
| Great Blue Herons, American Egrets and White | | | | growing within the saw grass marshes and |
| Pelicans are a common sight in the park as of | | | | providing fascinating areas of dappled shade and a |
| course are alligators which find a plentiful supply of | | | | close-up view of royal palms, strangler figs and |
| food along the edges of the miles of freshwater | | | | other hardwood hammocks. |
| sloughs. | | | | If in addition to day hiking you also enjoy camping |
| There are also many hiking trails through the | | | | then the park provides over 200 campsites and, |
| famous mangroves and paths such as Anhinga | | | | as long as you abide by the rules as far as speed |
| trail allow hikers to get a close-up view of one of | | | | and wash are concerned, you are even allowed to |
| the freshwater sloughs. Although this particular | | | | use a small motorboat in the park. Care needs to |
| trail is only about a half mile long through the saw | | | | be exercised however because the park is also |
| grass it is a wonderful walk and you find not | | | | home to a large number of beautiful manatee |
| simply alligators but also turtles and many other | | | | which the park is eager to keep from being |
| species along the way. | | | | harmed by careless boaters. |
| One unique feature of the park is to be found in | | | | Unlike many of America's national parks one of |
| the fact that both alligators and crocodiles, which | | | | the best times of year to visit the Everglades is |
| are often mistaken for one another, co-habit in | | | | during the winter months when the temperature |
| reasonable peace and perhaps surprisingly this is | | | | is pleasantly in the mid 70s and the air is relatively |
| the only place on Earth where this happens. | | | | dry. In the summer by contrast the temperature |
| Although many people believe that the Everglades | | | | can hover uncomfortably in the 90s with the |
| National Park is entirely composed of marsh and | | | | humidity way up towards 90%. |