The waters of Lake Okeechobee flow slowly south to Florida Bay over a 150 km wide front, creating one of the worlds most interesting ecologies

This "River of Grass" feeds the sawgrass marshes, swamps, mangroves and other eco systems that together are called  the Everglades. A large part of the area is protected in the Everglades National Park.

 

Here wildlife is thriving with 40 species of mammals, including the very rare Florida Panther and the more prolific raccoon.

Alligators, crocodiles, turtles and snakes invest the swamps. One very successful invasive species is the Burmese Python.

 

Manatees frequent  the southern parts near the sea where the water is not too shallow.  

 

But above all the Everglades are  known for the several hundreds species of bird.

Ibis, heron, spoonbill and stork wade between the waterfowl in the marshes while hawks and Golden Eagles soar high in the sky.

Black vultures are never in a hurry, they know time is on their side...

 

We have visited the Everglades several times, most photos are from April 2001.