Fifth Observation

For the fifth observation I kind of took a turn and decided to observe a different sort of marine life. It is known to be one of the largest subtropical wilderness areas in the United States and it has very rare and endangered species. It has also been designated a World Heritage Site, International Biosphere Reserve, and Wetland of International Importance. It is a very significant place to all people of the world and is known as the Everglades National Park. The day started off really early because it is about a two hour drive from Fort Lauderdale. My dad drove to the National Park and so of course I brought my pillow to rest my head on. As we got there we started hiking on a small path; there are over 150 miles of trails throughout the park. We saw several herons, such as the great blue heron and white heron. We also saw many alligators soaking up the sun and staying as still as a rock. We only saw them move if they were swimming to a different location or after food. My father and I walked about four different paths where we saw a 12-foot alligator, turtles, butterflies, and birds. The turtles we saw are called Florida Soft Shell Turtles. These turtles are found all around Florida, but mainly in the Everglades. They are limited to South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. These turtles rarely come to shore and spend most of their life in the water.

The park has many activities and things to do such as boating, camping, hiking and much more is always goes on. From Ranger led activities for the visitors, to great environmental education programs, to new scientific studies about this vast and unique ecosystem are just a few activities that take place daily. The Everglades National Park protects only one-fifth of the historic Everglades ecosystem. This massive landmass possesses several different habitats for a variety of wildlife. As time moves on and the human population and developments increase, National Parks must take on big roles to put a halt on the impacts of man on the natural world. If we do not preserve now we will be the ones that are to blame in the downfall of these precious reserves. Scientific study is the key to better understand and manage the resources that rely on our protection and care.