Everglades National Park by the Numbers: 1.5 Million Acres of River of Grass

The Everglades isn't a swamp — it's a **slow-moving river** 60 miles wide, 100 miles long, flowing south from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay. The national park protects the southern 20% of this unique ecosystem.

Vital Statistics

What Makes It Unique

• Only place on Earth where alligators and crocodiles coexist naturally
• Largest subtropical wilderness in North America
• Largest mangrove ecosystem in Western Hemisphere
• Primary recharge for Biscayne Aquifer (South Florida's drinking water)
• 350+ bird species (roseate spoonbill, wood stork, snail kite)
• 70+ threatened/endangered species (Florida panther, manatee, Cape Sable seaside sparrow)

Water Flow: The Lifeblood

Historically: 4 million acre-feet/year sheet flow. Now: <50% due to canals, levees, agriculture, development. **CERP (Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan)** — $23B, 30+ year project — aims to restore flow, quality, timing.

Visitor Access Points

• Ernest Coe (Main Entrance, Homestead): Royal Palm, Anhinga Trail, Long Pine Key
• Shark Valley (Tamiami Trail): 15-mi tram/bike loop, observation tower
• Gulf Coast (Everglades City): Boat tours, Ten Thousand Islands, backcountry camping
• Chekika (seasonal): Hiking, birding

The Everglades is big, flat, wet, and irreplaceable. 1.5 million acres of "River of Grass" — Marjory Stoneman Douglas's name, and still the best description.