Neelkanteshwar 2013

NeelKanteshwar 

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Everglades National Park Florida

Everglades National Park Florida

A Beautiful Display of information and a warm welcome to National Park.

In the United States, it is the largest subtropical wilderness, the largest wilderness of any kind east of the Mississippi River, and is visited on average by one million people each year.

The Park is the most significant breeding ground for tropical wading birds in North America, contains the largest mangrove ecosystem in the western hemisphere, is home to 36 threatened or protected species including the Florida panther, the American crocodile, and the West Indian manatee, and supports 350 species of birds, 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish, 40 species of mammals, and 50 species of reptiles.

In 2000, a federal effort to restore the Everglades, named the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), with the objectives of "restoration, preservation and protection of the south Florida ecosystem while providing for other water-related needs of the region and claiming to be the largest environmental restoration in history.

More than 900 jobs were sustained or created within or by the park, and the park added value of $35 million to local economies.

The busiest season for visitors is from December to March, when temperatures are lowest and mosquitoes are least active.Various hiking trails are accessible from the road, which runs to the Flamingo Visitor Center and marina, open and staffed during the busier time of the year.

Several walking trails in the park vary in hiking difficulty on Pine Island, where visitors can cross hardwood hammocks, pinelands, and freshwater sloughs. Starting at the Royal Palm Visitor Center, the Anhinga Trail is a half-mile self-guided tour through a sawgrass marsh where visitors can see alligators, marsh and wading birds, turtles, and bromeliads.

Two boardwalks allow visitors to walk through a cypress forest at Pa-Hay-O-Kee, which also features a two-story overlook, and another at Mahogany Hammock (referring to Swietenia mahagoni) that takes hikers through a dense forest in the middle of a freshwater marl prairie.

Closer to Flamingo, more rugged trails take visitors through mangrove swamps, along Florida Bay. Christian Point Trail, Snake Bight Trail, Rowdy Bend Trail and Coastal Prairie Trail allow viewing of shorebirds and wading birds among the mangroves.

Camping is available year-round in Everglades National Park. Front country camping, with some services, is available at Long Pine Key, close to the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, where 108 sites are accessible by car. Near Flamingo, 234 campsites with some services are also available.

A series of levees on the park's eastern border marks the line between urban and protected areas, but development into these areas threatens the park system. Florida still attracts nearly a thousand new residents every day, and building residential, commercial and industrial zones near Everglades National Park stresses the water balance and ecosystems within the park.

"Encroachment by housing and retail development has thrown the precious ecosystem into a tailspin, and if humankind doesn't back off, there will be nothing left of one of this country's most amazing treasures.

The American crocodile's only habitat is in South Florida. They were once over hunted for their hides. They are protected today from hunting, but are still threatened due to habitat destruction, and injury from cars when they cross roads to reach waterways. About 1,000 crocodiles currently live in Florida and there are roughly 50 nests in the Everglades.

The Florida panther is one of the most endangered mammals on earth. About 50 live in the wild, primarily in the Everglades and the Big Cypress Swamp. The biggest threats to the panther include habitat destruction from human development, vehicle collisions

Four Everglade species of sea turtle including the Atlantic green sea turtle, the Atlantic hawks bill, the Atlantic loggerhead (Caretta caretta), and the Atlantic ridley (Lepidochelys kempii) are endangered. Also, the leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) is threatened.

Fire naturally occurs after lightning storms, but takes its heaviest toll when water levels are low. Hardwood hammock and cypress trees are susceptible to heavy damage from fire, and some may take decades to grow back.

Discover the mysteries of the Everglades at South Florida's oldest alligator farm. Near the main entrance of Everglades National Park, Everglades Alligator Farm contains more than 2,000 alligators! Glide across the everglades on one of our guided airboat tours. Alligator, snake, and wildlife shows are performed hourly.

The Everglades Alligator Farm one of the few real working alligator farm, that doesn't process alligators. Alligator eggs are collected every year, and sold to other alligator farms around the state.

A trip to the Everglades Alligator Farm includes an exciting airboat tour of the surrounding river of grass, a walking trail around the farm to see the alligators, crocodiles, caimans, and wildlife, a great display of local and exotic snakes, and informational wildlife shows every hour.

The alligator show is one of the most entertaining aspects of the farm. Our expert handlers educate guests on all aspects of these creatures of the swamp. You'll see primitive capturing techniques once used by Native American Indians. Stay after the show while we pass out a live baby alligator for photo opportunities.

Gliding across the river of grass is the highlight of the alligator farm. Our guided tours cut through miles of preserved everglades, ripe with wildlife. The ride can be wet, wild, and loads of fun.

At The Everglades Alligator Farm, you will find a picture-perfect scenario filled with paramount mystery that echoes its call of wonderment. With its rustic ambiance, The Everglades Alligator Farm brings you on a journey where no one dares to tread. Deep into the heart and soul of nature's alley, where forests of wonder captivate a secret beauty and where alligator and wildlife encounters provide rare photo opportunities.

Thanks and Regards

Yogesh Shinde.

Reach me @ a2yshindephotography@gmail.com

Ctc: 9822008403.

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