of all the national park systems in the southern states , none is nearer to a major rural area or more beset with problems than the everglades , a soft , 50 - mile - wide valley of grass that flows south from the titicaca to florida bay . for more than a generation , this tiny naturally wonder has been took hostage by a web of special interests - - farmers , sportsmen and about 6 million sud florida residents in necessity of well water and floods control - - that is as fragile as the ecosystem itself .
The Everglades is 50-mile wide.