Each year, Floridians feel the effect of the changing climate. Some in the southern portions of the state see rising sea levels and the accompanying flooding in sections where, decades before, such problems did not exist. Others feel the change with the growing bright green toxic algae that produces health problems and contamination around the Okeechobee River and downstream. Although most of the issues stem from the mid-1800s Federal Swamp and Overflow Lands Act, which essentially gave the Everglades to Florida contingent upon the swamp being drained, many problems stem from the canals built in the 1930s to prevent flooding. These canals destroyed thousands of acres of wetlands, forever changing the Everglades.

Contamination and Preservation

The Everglades once occupied more than half of the state, occupying Orlando to the Florida Keys. Central to the survival of the Everglades is Lake Okeechobee. Historically, fresh water would accumulate and flush southbound toward South Florida. With this water flow, over 11,000 square miles of land wetlands, sawgrass marshes, ponds, and forests would be purified by the fresh waters of Lake Okeechobee, obtaining needed nutrients that fed a biodiverse environment and thus creating one of the most amazing ecosystems on Earth. Construction projects, such as the construction of major roadways, interrupted the natural flow of water, thus starving large portions of the ecosystem.

Finally in 1934 Congress authorized the protection of the Florida Everglades with the creation of the Everglades National Park. Although the area once covered over 11 million acres of land, the remaining 1.4 million acres became one of the largest parks in the United States. Additionally, public and private organizations developed plans to restore the Everglades and protect much of the area from further damage. Projects such as the Disney Wilderness Preserve and the Nature Conservancy have pushed to restore water functions in areas affected by ditches and drains and maintain low-intensity agriculture, among other innovative initiatives to promote preservation and restoration.

Everglades National Park and Visitors

Visitors to the Everglades National Park are contributing to the protection and preservation of the area; therefore, tourism is important and necessary. The diversity of the park and the subsequent attractions promote a wide variety of activities that include hiking and biking trails, scenic driving routes, canoeing, and boat tours, among other activities. It is wise to visit the park during the dry season that spans from December to March as there are fewer mosquitos and the temperature is cooler and less muggy. The area is vast, and the park has several entrances that span across multiple counties. Depending on a visitor’s desired activities, tourists can visit the Royal Palm, Lone Pine Key, Flamingo, and Shark Valley sections and access one of the many trails that the areas offer. Because of the size and the remote nature of some of the locations, communication is important. Tourists and nature enthusiasts can visit one of the many AT&T Stores in Florida and review smartphones, accessories, and plans to ensure that they have coverage while visiting the park.

Everglades National Park provides a different experience than those offered by other parks. Much of the area is covered with water, and accessing some of the amazing sections will require kayaks or boats — yet the park is much more than just a swampy, gator-infested wetland. Instead, visitors will enjoy activities that provide a connection with nature that is otherwise unobtainable and unexplainable unless experienced firsthand. The peace of mind and tranquility experienced during the visit will be accompanied by memories of vast mangroves silenced by the voice of nature. Those looking to live an adventure and build long-lasting memories are encouraged to join the list of visitors mesmerized by the park’s beauty.