The Florida Everglades; that name makes it sound like there are other everglades outside of Florida, but there are not. The Everglades are unique on our planet and consist of estuaries, coastal marshes, mangrove and pine forests, prairies, and hardwood hammocks.

The Everglades National Park was established in 1947 to protect the diversity of flora and fauna in the region. After over 100 years of people trying to eliminate the swamp, the restoration efforts are paying off. The water flow is starting to return, and with it, the plants and animals.

It was amazing to see the prairies, grasslands, coasts, and then tiny islands of hardwood forests. I was not expecting to see such a wide array of environments.