of all the national scenic sites in the 48 states , none is closer to a central urban area or more beset with problem than the ecosystem , a shallow , 50 - mile - wide waterway of grasses that flows southward from bay titicaca to the bay . for more than a decade , this small artificial wonder has been made hostage by a chain of special interest - - farmers , sportsmen and about 6 million south florida residents in need of tank water and climate control - - that is as confusing as the world itself .
The Everglades is 50-mile wide.