Within this ecosystem, Everglades National Park encompasses more than 600,000 hectares. The park provides a protected habitat for alligators, crocodiles, nesting birds, rare plants and hundreds of other species. Visitors can pitch tents in campgrounds, sleep in houseboats or stay in a lodge. Waterways and paths lead vacationers into the Everglades' diverse environments. At the marina, tour boats start their journeys down Buttonwood Canal to Coot Bay, a favourite destination for houseboaters and anglers.
Mangroves arch their roots above the water like legs poised to step across the canal.
Hence their nickname, the walking trees. As this five-kilometre waterway cuts through dense forests, it showcases some of the Everglades' creatures. A wood stork needs hundreds of pounds of fish. If the number of wood storks is down, we know the park is in trouble. A boat takes visitors on a sightseeing tour.