of all the national park lands in the u state , neither is nearer to a major urban area or more beset with problems than the okeechobee , a shallow , 50 - mile - across flowing of sand that flows south from river okeechobee to florida bay . for more than a generation , this rare natural wonder has been held hostage by a web of special interests - - farmers , sportsmen and about 6 trillion south fl residents in needing of drinking water and storm controlled - - that is as complex as the ecosystem itself .
The Everglades is 50-mile wide.