… was authorized in 1934 but finally established 65 years ago today (1947).
This national park is the 3rd largest in the lower 48 states, covering 2358 square miles (1.5 million acres). There are a number of locations you can begin your adventure here in south Florida from Everglades City to Homestead to Key Largo.
With the dedication of Everglades National Park in 1947, a new precedent was set in the growing conservation movement. For the first time in American history, a large tract of wilderness was permanently protected not for its scenic value, but for the benefit of the unique diversity of life it sustained.
The mosaic of habitats found within the Greater Everglades Ecosystem supports an assemblage of plant and animal species not found elsewhere on the planet. While nine distinct habitats have been identified, the landscape remains dynamic. Ecosystems remain in a constant state of flux, subject to the elements of south Florida.
The boundaries of Everglades National Park protect only the southern one-fifth of the historic Everglades ecosystem. In its entirety, this massive watershed boasts a multitude of habitats that provide a subtropical refuge to a unique assemblage of wildlife.
With the passage of time and the growth of human population centers in south Florida, the park serves a new role — serving as a touchstone against which to gauge the impacts of man on the natural world. Scientific study is the key to better understanding, and managing, the resources entrusted to our care and protection.
