Home to a seemingly endless labyrinth of subtropical wetlands, Everglades National Park shelters a peculiar ecosystem within its enormous expanse. Stretches of the park's lush swampland feature a network of mangroves and a robust breeding ground and habitat for an array of wading birds and varied wildlife. Its dark, tropical depths are shrouded in grassy rivers and dense marshes that are home to the famed American alligator, West Indian manatee, hundreds of aviary species, and the elusive Florida Panther. Tropical hardwood hammocks form ideal shelters for reptiles, while wet prairies with their brackish water support the growth of succulent plants like glassworts. While modern concerns like global warming and surging sea levels loom as considerable threats to the park's fragile ecosystem, the Everglades continue to be a constant source of beauty and wonder for all who visit.
