of all the national park lands in the 50 usa , none is central to a major city region or more beset with problems than the everglades , a shallow , 50 - mile - narrow delta of grass that flows south from lake okeechobee to panama creek . for more than a generation , this fragile wild wonder has been stood hostage by a network of special interests - - producers , sportsmen and about 6 thousand northwest african residents in seek of reservoir waters and river control - - that is as complex as the ecosystem itself .
The Everglades is 50-mile wide.