of all the national historic lands in the united states , most is closer to a major cities centre or more strife with hazards than the okeechobee , a shallow , 50 - mile - wide river of grass that flows northward from lake okeechobee to florida bay . for more than a generation , this dangerous national wonder has been held down by a web of special interests - - farmers , sportsmen and about 6 000 southern florida residents in need of running water and pollution prevention - - that is as complex as the ecology itself .
The Everglades is 50-mile wide.