About The Everglades
What are the Everglades
Swamp is a word commonly used to describe the Everglades, but that is not an accurate description. The Everglades is actually a river. It’s a very shallow, slow-moving river that in some places is just inches deep and 50 miles wide. Sometimes called The River of Grass, it forms as water from Lake Okeechobee, which historically overflows the lake’s banks, moves onto the southern Florida plains. The waters then make their way to the Gulf of Mexico at the amazingly slow rate of 2,000 feet per day, or about one mile per 2 ½ days, depending on water depth.
Great White Heron
And how slow is that, in comparison to other rivers? Well, at its headwaters in Minnesota, the Mighty Mississippi moves along at about 1.2 Miles Per Hour, which translates to about 152,000 feet per day. When the Mississippi gets to New Orleans, it’s moving about 3 MPH, which comes out to 380,000 feet per day.
The Everglades River is lazy, and its pace creates an ecosystem that’s friendly to about 150 species of trees, 40 species of mammals, hundreds of types of colorful birds, and an array of reptiles and amphibians, including crocodiles and alligators. It’s a unique habitat that you won’t see anywhere else on Earth.
Everglades National Park
The Everglades National Park covers approximately 2,357 square miles, making it bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware. It is the third largest park in the lower 48 states, surpassed by only Death Valley and Yellowstone. Everglades National Park was established on December 6, 1947, in an effort to conserve the natural landscape and prevent degradation of not only its land, but also the plants and animals that inhabit the Everglades.
The Park has been designated as an International Biosphere Reserve and a Wetlands of International Significance by the United Nations. So it is not only crucial to the local region and state, but recognized on an international scale.
If you’re considering a visit to the National Park, we encourage you to check out the National Park Services page dedicated to planning your visit. Here are valuable resources to provide you important information about everything there is to see and do!
Where are the Everglades
1.5 million acres of tropical wetlands in southern Florida make up the Everglades. You’ll find us here at Shark Valley Loop Road in Miami. When navigating with a GPS, you’ll want to use 36000 SW 8th Street, Miami, 33194.
Click here for a map of the Everglades, courtesy the National Park Service.
What to do in Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park isn’t just home to amazing wildlife, it also features plenty of opportunity for fun and excitement during your visit.
Rated among the top attractions in Everglades National Park by Tripadvisor, Shark Valley offers guests numerous ways to explore.
Among guest favorites are the two-hour Everglades tram tours. During your tram ride, you’ll get up close and personal to the amazing Everglade experience. However, nothing can beat standing atop the 45-foot high observation deck at the midway point of your journey. This provides unrivaled views of the Everglades and is a perfect spot to snap a photo or two.
For those of us who like to move at their own pace, there’s a self-guided bicycle tour one can experience with our Everglades bike rental option, or you can save costs and bring your own bike. This 15-mile paved road is flat and free of rough terrain, so it’s a quite enjoyable 2-3 hour adventure.
Where to Stay in Everglades National Park
There is no shortage of available accommodations in and around Everglades National Park. We invite you to visit our Shark Valley resources page which outlines links to nearby accommodations and attractions to learn more.