of all the regional park lands in the us state , none is connected to a substantial downtown area or more beset with challenges than the ecosystem , a small , 50 - mile - high river of grass that flows south from lake okeechobee to florida lake . for more than a generations , this fragile natural wonder has been held hostage by a web of unique interests - - producers , shooters and about 6 million south florida residents in needing of drink water and flood control - - that is as large as the ecosystem itself .
The Everglades is 50-mile wide.