It means marshy land covered in places with tall grasses. The park boundary only partly contains the watery expanse for which it is named. An area of this marshy land and open water larger than Delaware was set aside as a park in 1947. But its great size can neither protect the environment from the disruptive commercial agriculture and industry around it, nor assure that endangered species finding havens here will survive. Human concern and prudent management must now play a strong environmental role.
Climate governs Everglades life.
Heavy rains fall during intense storms in late May through October. Summer's high water levels enable animals to range throughout the park, so you will not then see the concentrations of wildlife so typical of winter months. Violent winds and torrential rains of hurricanes may sweep northward during June to November. The Everglades winter is mild, with inclement weather rare and insects less bothersome. With winter's dry season wildlife must congregate in and around the waterholes, many visible from the nature trails.