The Everglades, a “‘River of Grass’”

The Everglades; what you need to know: The Everglades are in Florida and are home to
various species of fauna and flora. It is a great place to explore if you are a psychocentric
traveler, as it is filled with stunning natural beauty while still being close to home. There are 9
ecosystems that have been identified within the Everglades
(https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/nature/plants.htm). The Everglades are filled with different
types of plants which help sustain these ecosystems and make for a pretty picture.
There is a wet season and a dry season in the Everglades. The wet season is prone to heavy insect
activity which can be quite unpleasant for tourists. It is protected by the National Park Service
and unfortunately, are facing major threats of destruction and the endangerment of many of its
species.

Current issues: Something that we recently discussed in my Physical World class is how sea
level is on the rise. This is due to several factors, the most influential being thermal expansion
(water molecules expanding as they are heated) and the melting of ice, especially from glaciers
and ice sheets. Water levels are on the rise in the Everglades as well. This can lead to major
floodings destroying surrounding wildlife habitats and plant life. In 2015 there were 60
endangered species of plants.
Although some people may not understand the full intensity of the situation, there are many
dedicated people that aim to protect the Everglades as long as possible. You can check out this
fantastic article published by author Nina Burleigh in the New York Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/27/travel/everglades-florida.html. I want to leave you with
this information that Burleigh included in her write-up for the New York Times. “All of New
Jersey could have fit into the pre-drainage Everglades. But the ecosystem today is half the size it
was before development.” We need to do all that we can to enact change. Fast.
Questions: 1. What are some simple ways that we can help prevent destruction? 2. What is

currently the biggest threat to the Everglades?