Together these areas make up another 100,000 acres of preserved land in southwest Florida. Along with the Big Cypress, these lands are some of the least hospitable but most beautiful natural areas in the eastern United States. The region is noted for its unique plants and animals including, rare orchids, alligators, and the endangered wood stork, West Indian manatee, and Florida panther. The third part of the Everglades looks like a green ribbon dappled in brown that winds its way along the coast. The green color comes from tropical mangrove trees that flourish along much of the south Florida coast.
Mangroves are unique trees that can withstand life in the saltwater environment.
The trees are a vital link to the food web along the south Florida coast. The brown is the tea colored coastal waters that, combined with the mangroves, forms the Ten Thousand Islands and Florida Bay part of the Everglades system. This is an area where the water ranges from fresh to full-strength seawater. The freshwater flows from the Everglades and Big Cypress Swamp to the coast where it mixes with salt water from the Gulf of Mexico. This dynamic are, known as an estuary, is home to nearly three fourths of all the fish and shellfish that live in the warm waters off Florida s coast.