The Impressive Swamps of Florida

1. The Impressive Swamps of Florida Home to approximately 2,700 square kilometers of the subtropical coastal ecosystem, Florida has mangrove swamps that include a variety of wetland habitats that extend up to 30 miles inland on the southwest coast and also spread along the northern shores. Florida boasts of some unique swamp areas due to the high water table, significant rainfall, and mostly flat topology. Green Swamp: The Green Swamp region is a plateau consisting of 560,000 acres of wetlands, flatlands and small ridges that are bordered by prominent sandy ridgelines. Protecting the Green Swamp is vital since rainwater trickles down through the soil to replenish the Floridan aquifer system and drains across the surface to create the headwaters of four major rivers, turning it into the primary source of drinking water for most Floridians. The Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve stretches almost through 10,000 acres of the swamp and is home to a wide array of wildlife. Everglades: Comprising of the southern half of a large drainage basin, this "Mangrove Jungle," borders the 10,000 Islands and the Gulf of Mexico, beginning near Orlando with the Kissimmee River and discharging into the vast yet shallow Lake Okeechobee. The Everglades is not only inhabited by huge snakes and alligators but is an extensive forest with many forms of wildlife and birds living in their natural habitat. The region also experiences a variety of weather patterns from frequent flooding to drought depending on the wet or dry season. The extraordinary combination of climate, topology and ocean currents make the Everglades America's only subtropical wilderness.  Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary: The Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is the heart of the Everglades ecosystem. Located in the southwest Florida and about 30 minutes east of Naples, the sanctuary was established to protect one of the largest remaining stands of bald cypress and pond cypress from the large-scale logging going on throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Today it is also known as the Corkscrew Wildlife Sanctuary as it is home to hundreds of alligators, red-bellied turtles, otters and white-tailed deer along with the fabulous Painted Bunting and a huge variety of wading birds, songbirds and raptors. A boardwalk trail of a little over 3 km offers walking access to the sanctuary through the marsh ecosystems, pine flatwood, wet prairie, pond and bald cypress.  Okefenokee Swamp: Designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1974, the Okefenokee Swamp is a 438,000-acre, shallow, peat-filled wetland, sprawling the Georgia–Florida line, majorly

2. protected by the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the Okefenokee Wilderness. As one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia, the Okefenokee is the largest ‘blackwater' swamp in North America.  Barley-Barber Swamp: Barley- Barber Swamp, located in Western Martin County, is a 400-acre freshwater cypress swamp preserve bought by the Florida Power and Light in the 1970's. With the various plant and wildlife species, the swamp is most popular for its ancient bald cypress trees. The shallow basin permits retention of surface water throughout the year, aiding in the survival of cypress trees and other swamp vegetation. Author Bio: The author is an environmentalist, a writer and also an avid traveler. Based in Florida, he visits the various wildlife preserves in the Southwest region and shares his experiences. For more details visit http://themaritimeexplorer.ca/2017/03/22/corkscrew- sanctuary-every-visit-different/