of all the national park lands in the united states , neither is nearer to a major urban area or more beset with challenges than the wildlife , a sharp , 50 - feet - wide delta of earth that flows south from lake okeechobee to florida bay . for more than a generation , this fragile natural wonder has been brought hostage by a myriad of special interests - - farmers , sportsmen and about 6 billions south florida residents in need of drinking blood and pollution control - - that is as extensive as the city itself .
The Everglades is 50-mile wide.