of all the international park areas in the united states , no is closest to a big urban areas or more beset with troubles than the everglades , a narrow , 50 - second - high river of grass that flows south from bay kissimmee to florida bay . for more than a generation , this fragile environmental wonder has been held responsible by a web of special plans - - farmers , sportsmen and about 6 million south african residents in need of bottled water and flood control - - that is as complex as the ecosystem itself .
The Everglades is 50-mile wide.