Everglades 50th Birthday
Dateline: 12/12/97
As a longtime resident of South Florida, I sometimes like to point out to our northern visitors that the Everglades is not just some big swamp that serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes (though the second part is certainly true), but that it is actually a grass prairie covered by slow-moving water - thus its nickname, the "River of Grass." As someone who enjoys bringing up little known facts, I also like to point out that Everglades National Park is the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist. They are, in fact, just a few of species of animals that call the Everglades their home.
Among the threatened and endangered species that inhabit the area are the green turtle, the West Indian manatee, and the Florida panther, as well as a number of birds, including the snail kite, wood stork, and red cockaded woodpecker. As the largest sub-tropical wilderness in the continental United States, the park features a number of distinct ecosystems within its boundaries, ranging from freshwater sloughs to mangrove forests and estuaries.
December 6th culminated a year-long celebration of the park's 50th anniversary with a rededication ceremony, which was attended by Vice President Gore. A number of visitor programs and exhibits throughout 1997 have focused on the theme of the park's past, present, and future.
Fifty years ago, the park was formally dedicated by Harry Truman "for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people." It was the country's first national park to be recognized primarily for its biological - not geological - significance. Boundary changes since 1947 have more than tripled the size of the park, but almost since its inception, the Everglades has been fighting for its life. Explosive population growth in South Florida has forced the rechanneling and draining of the Everglades, which has in turn decimated the wildlife habitat, introduced non-native water-absorbing plants, and prevented the necessary fresh water to flow through the system.
As important as last 50 years have been in the development and protection of the park, the next half century is probably even more important. The price tag for the largest ecological rescue ever attempted is expected to exceed $4 billion. The restoration effort got a boost when Vice President Gore announced an agreement to purchase more than 50,000 acres needed to help nourish the beleaguered "river of grass." The land will be used to continue to filter runoff of phosphorous and other pollutants. Last weekend's anniversary observance served as an urgent reminder of the fragile nature of the environment and the need to protect it for the enjoyment of future generations.
Everglades National Park offers
a number of year-round visitor activities, including hiking, canoeing,
boating, and fishing. The best time to visit is during the winter
when birds are plentiful and mosquitoes are (slightly) less so.
For further information, call (305) 242-7700.