Deer In The Everglades by Lynn PelhamLIFE Photo Collection
Everglades National Park is a sprawling wetland world where water and wildlife take center stage, defying our usual expectations of what a national park should be. In this story, we will discuss eight facts you might not know about the infamous River of Grass.
1. The birth of the swamp
Founded in 1947 to halt environmental decline and preserve the landscape, Everglades National Park quickly stepped onto the international stage. Its profile was permanently elevated by the publication of Marjory Stoneman Douglas’s classic, The Everglades: River of Grass.
Tap to explore
2. The highest point is only 8 feet above sea level
Unlike national parks defined by towering peaks, the Everglades is a low-lying wonder where the highest elevation reaches just 8 feet above sea level.
Tap to explore
3. It was established to protect life, not geology
While many national parks are set aside to preserve dramatic peaks or geological features, Everglades National Park was specifically established to safeguard its unparalleled biodiversity and sprawling wetlands.
4. Vultures can be a hazard to parked cars
Drawn to soft plastics, black vultures can cause costly damage to parked cars in minutes by tearing apart wipers and rubber seals. To help tourists protect their vehicles, the park offers a dedicated "Vultures & Visitors" safety advisory.
5. It is a sanctuary for 36 threatened or endangered species
It is a sanctuary for 36 threatened or endangered species. This vast ecosystem provides a habitat for highly vulnerable animals, including the American alligator, the rare Florida panther, the West Indian manatee, and the Florida bonneted bat, while also supporting dozens of other mammals.
6. It is a bird watcher's paradise
The park hosts an incredibly rich and diverse bird population, with over 350 species of birds documented within its boundaries. Including the endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow, the Everglade snail kite, the wood stork, and the threatened eastern black rail.
7. Dozens of mammal species roam the wetlands
Along with its famous reptiles and birds, the Everglades is home to 40 species of mammals. Here you can spot white-tailed deer foraging in the shallow sawgrass prairies, marsh rabbits swimming through the freshwater wetlands, and even bobcats hunting along the coastal mangroves.
Tap to explore
8. It hides a Cold War-era Nike Missile Site
Deep within the park lies Nike Missile Site HM-69, a preserved Cold War relic built after the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Its role was to protect South Florida from potential Soviet bomber attacks, keeping nuclear-capable Nike-Hercules missiles combat-ready just 160 miles from Cuba.
Everglades 76' (1950/1960) by Alfred EisenstaedtLIFE Photo Collection
To protect this wilderness for future generations, massive restoration projects are underway. The park relies on a major federal-state partnership called the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), the largest project of its kind in U.S. history.
By removing old canals and modifying infrastructure, teams are working to restore the historical, slow-moving "River of Grass." This ensures that clean, fresh water properly reaches the fragile wetlands, vulnerable wildlife, and coastal estuaries that need it to survive.
Everglades, Florida (1952) by Alfred EisenstaedtLIFE Photo Collection
Discover more
Everglades National Park is ultimately a sanctuary where the boundaries between human curiosity and raw wilderness blur, reminding us that we are merely guests in a delicate, water-bound home. Keep on discovering the beauty of the American National Parks.
Interested in Natural history?
Get updates with your personalized Culture Weekly
You are all set!
Your first Culture Weekly will arrive this week.