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