Ecosystems · North America

Everglades And Gulf Coast Wetlands

A slow river of grass, mangroves and tropical wading birds.

The Everglades is a vast, shallow, slow-moving river of freshwater flowing across southern Florida, often called the River of Grass. Sawgrass marsh, cypress swamp, pine islands and mangrove coast sit side by side.

It is a subtropical wetland on a scale found almost nowhere else.

The Landscape

Water moves slowly south over limestone, and a few inches of difference in height decide whether a place is marsh, forest or open water. Mangroves guard the coast, and raised hardwood hammocks form islands in the marsh.

Who Lives Here

American Alligators shape the wetlands, Wood Storks, Roseate Spoonbills and herons feed in the shallows, and the endangered Florida Panther roams the forests. Manatees use warm coastal waters, and both alligators and American Crocodiles live here.

Through The Year

The dry season, roughly December to April, concentrates animals around remaining water and is the best time for birds. The wet season from May to October brings heat, storms and mosquitoes.

Pressures And Care

Water diverted for farming and towns, nutrient pollution, sea-level rise, hurricanes and invasive species such as the Burmese Python have all altered the Everglades. Large restoration projects aim to bring back natural water flow.

Visiting Well

Give alligators space, never feed wildlife, use insect repellent, and follow park rules for boats and trails.

Look for

American Alligator
Roseate Spoonbill
Wood Stork
Red Mangrove
West Indian Manatee

Often a good time to visit: December, January, February, March. Conditions vary from year to year and place to place.

Related habitats

Wetland · Coastal

More in North America

Pacific Northwest Temperate Rainforest · Great Plains And Prairies · Eastern Deciduous Forest And Appalachians · Sonoran And Mojave Deserts