The Florida Everglades have been slowly and steadily diminishing in size for over many decades. Throughout the years, the Everglades have had an abundant, healthy environment. The massive swamps were once rich with marshland, and had ecosystems chock-full of wildlife. However, due to large corporations, natural disasters and most importantly, the growth of the human population, the Everglades are 50% smaller than they were hundreds of years ago. The destruction of the Florida Everglades includes not only a diminishing number of the marshland, but also the lessening of wild life, such as alligators, herons, and exotic plants. While there is a government plan set for the restoration of the everglades, it will take many years to make up for the …show more content…
Due to the climate change during the Late Archaic period, the water levels rose and the large area became marshland. They once ran from the Kissimmee River in Orlando all the way down to Southern Florida, in the bay (ok 2002). Before development due to the increase in the Florida population, the Everglades were around 5,000,000 acres and covered a third of the state. (ok 2002). However, there are 3,000,000 acres expanding from Lake Okeechobee to the Florida Bay, that are called the ‘Historic Everglades.’ The Everglades are full of fresh water, that moves over blades of sawgrass. Sawgrass is a sedge with spiny-edged leaves (dict. 2002). This gives the large wetlands a ripple effect from far away. Sawgrass is not the only kind of life in the Everglades. The ‘old’ Everglades had an abundance of freshwater sloughs, mangrove swamps, pine rock lands and hardwood hammocks (ok 2002). In figure one, it is shown …show more content…
If there were about one million visitors this year, the park would make at least $8,000,000. Every dollar goes back to the park and its rangers. While that may be a nice stream of revenue, it does not even cover a fourth of the cost to restore the Everglades. The estimated cost of fully restoring the Everglades will total to around $10 to $14 billion and could take upwards of 15 years starting from the year 2015.
The national park also employs hundreds of Floridians. Because Florida relies so heavily on the tourism industry, there are also many different activities offered around the Everglades area. Many tourists can enjoy airboat rides into the wetlands or alligator and crocodile sight-seeing boat tours. Within the last five years, tourists have collectively spent over $500,000,000 in the areas surrounding the Everglades National Park. The money spent contributes to local businesses in the counties surrounding the Everglades. Just a few of the counties are Collier, Broward, and
Florida became a state in 1845 and almost immediately people began proposing to drain the Everglades. In 1848, a government report said that draining the Everglades would be easy, and there would be no bad effect. Canals and dams were dug to control seasonal flooding. Farmers grew vegetables in the rich soil of the drained land, Ranchers had their cattle graze on the dry land, and new railways lines were constructed to connect communities throughout south Florida; but the ecosystem of the Everglades was not suited for either farming or ranching. The natural cycle of dry and wet seasons brought a devastating series of droughts and floods. These had always been a p...
This is a very critical situation that needs to be fixed urgently. The habitats of the Everglades depend on an annual water cycle which has been hindered by the development construction which was imposed on the farmland. Back in the 19th century, developers were keen on draining all the swamps in the Everglades for developmental purposes. Their intention was to grow sugarcane plantations on the land yet sugarcanes are highly destructive to the Everglades. They too disrupt the water cycle to which the wildlife has adapted. The Florida sugar industry built on the southern Shore of Lake Okeechobee directly clocks the water source for the remaining Everglades hence destroying the habitats of the wildlife existing in the affected areas.
Fifty percent of the original wetlands doesn’t even exist today. The water supply in the Everglades is changing and that has affected the Everglades in many ways. For one, population is decreasing and mankind needs to restore it somehow. Next, the Everglades are in need of some money to do that restoration, but where will they get it from? Last, the water supply is poisoning the humanity around it with much bacteria and many bad and dangerous elements. The Everglades water supply affected it in fixing the Everglades and wildlife.
Within the state of Florida there are dozens of individualized, non-profit organizations making an effort to help the local wildlife. The local land and marine wildlife includes birds, geckos, frogs, snakes, panthers, manatees, sea turtles, fishes, sharks, corals, lizards and many, many more. Florida State is located on the Southeastern tip of the United States providing a unique opportunity for conservation of salt-water animals. While there are animal conservation efforts taking place all over the world, this essay will focus on two animal species that humans are specifically trying to save in Florida State. The two main animal species of focus are manatees and sea turtles.
In understanding how my worldview was subconsciously constructed by my life experiences from the past nineteen years, I had to first think about my roots. I was born in Tampa, Florida to a Puerto Rican mother and white father. They divorced when I was too young to remember, and while I did have a relationship with my dad, I lived with my mother and was raised in a tight-knit Puerto Rican family, often times being cared for by my grandmother. I was an only child for ten years which I’m sure has impacted my personality, and at ten I got a baby sister whom I am very close to. Growing up in Florida was interesting because I was half white and half Hispanic, which mirror the main demographics of Florida well, but I never quite fit in with either group because while I look very white and this is what people perceive me as, I was not raised by the white side of my family but rather the Puerto Rican side. Still, I don’t quite fit into this group either because I don’t speak perfect Spanish at home and most Hispanic people treat me as an “outgroup” and not one of them.
Vacation is the one thing that people look forward to throughout the year. People usually think of it as a time to relax, unwind, and enjoy an amazing tropical getaway. Maybe it’s chilling at the beach or taking the night out, vacation is always something fun for anyone. Imagine yourself soaking in the sun, laying by the shore, breathing in the salty air, and laying under a palm tree. People can experience this all right along the island of Key West. Key West is an exciting vacation for the whole family to enjoy that includes snorkeling to amazing seafood.
The best way to get people interested in a novel is to title it Skinny Dip . Even better, one of the most effective ways to get people involved in Florida 's Everglades is by subtly making it the setting for a novel full of murder, sex, mayhem, and lots of comedy. Carl Hiaasen's Skinny Dip is an attractive read from the start. The title and the cover immediately call on the baser of human instinct. They are catchy and promise readers entertainment. It is a perfect marketing scheme. Even if a person were to see the novel but neglect to purchase it, there is a big chance that that person will read the cover preview… “Chaz Perrone…the only marine scientist in the world who doesn't know which way the Gulf Stream runs”… “Illegally dumping fertilizer into the endangered Everglades ”… “The warped politics and mayhem of the human environment”… Automatically, any passer-by skimmer of the novel will wonder: “What way does the Gulf Stream run?” At the same time, they get a glimpse into possibly un-chartered waters and gain minimal, yet important details about the Everglades, namely, that it is endangered and that ‘warped politics' are part of the reason. If an individual delves into the novel, knowing little to nothing about Florida 's Everglades, they get a crash course about Florida 's environment in an Everglades for Dummies kind of way.
The Everglades, classified as a wetland or a "transition zone" can support plant and animal life unlike any other place. Wetlands are an important resource for endangered species and "that more than one third of the United States' threatened and endangered species live only in wetlands." Says Elaine Mao, the author of Wetlands and Habitat Loss. People have started to notice the importance and the role of wetlands like the Everglades and how they are valuable and essential for ecosystems to live. Wetlands provide so many kinds of plants, mammals, reptiles, birds, and
People from all around the world travel to the U.S. only to experience the great American national parks. According to the NPS 2015 Annual Visitation Summary Report, a total of 480,307,933 people visited national parks in the United States during 2015 both for recreational and non-recreational purposes. Ecotourism, an economic model that combines tourism with commerce, contributes to the maintenance of national parks and allows isolated small towns surrounding national parks to thrive. According to Frye and Nuest, in addition to the views, “these wonders of the Earth provide ample opportunities for visitors to hike, bicycle, climb, swim, horseback ride, and paddle” (PAGE NUMBER). Such activities contribute to the visitors’ experience and have resulted in great customer satisfaction (Roemer and Vasek 46). All of these activities, along with other further services such as lodging and dining, create income for national parks and local businesses, as well, as more employment opportunities for the people, working for both local business and at the national parks. The NPS website claimed that they employed approximately 22,000 permanent, temporary, and seasonal professionals. However, when the idea of commerce comes into play with the preservation of natural and historic sites, the danger to lose
Rising sea levels are becoming a prominent issue along with global warming and climate change for many regions near costal areas, Miami, Florida being one of the most detrimental areas. With a current population of 413,892 living just 6 feet above sea level, Miami is positioned as one of the first areas to feel some of the disastrous effects of climate change (Johnson). Within the next 100 years rising sea levels have the ability to damage South Florida’s fragile barrier island, the population that lives near costal areas, and its appealing subtropical beaches (Madigan A12). Coastal areas, which provide the largest area for disaster, however are not the only area that will experience the effects of climate change. Looking further inland, the Everglades, which provide Miami with source of fresh water could be contaminated through the high salt levels of the ocean, rendering them unusable (Madigan A12). The everglades of Miami depend upon precipitation as source of fresh water, however with the rise in sea levels the overwhelming amount of saltwater is detrimental to their health (Linhoss, Chambers, Wozniak, and Ankersen). The rise of sea levels will result in the plunge of the Florida Keys along with the Key West (Madigan A12). The high risk of flooding that the Florida keys are faced with propose a decline in environment for various species that are endangered (Linhoss, Chambers, Wozniak, and Ankersen). By the end of this century, effects from melting snow and ice reserves and the thermal expansion of the ocean water mass are significant factors attributed to the rise in sea levels affecting Miami (Sea level rise). Thermal expansion that was once the main factor in sea level rise has decelerated causing the acce...
Even though there are money strength Port Everglades have when it comes to business there are still a few weaknesses the company has. For example, to be able to do all of the projects the employers are planning on doing on the Harbor is going to cost about $374 million. To gain the money for the project the money would be collected from port use fees, federal and state grant (port everglades deepening, 2015). Which is money the federal and state could of gave to a small business or to use fix other problems that maybe occurring in the county. When it comes to their Cruise the Port there are a few flaws the some of the passengers who went on their vacation with their family on Port Everglade had encounter during their trip. For example, one
Natural attractions are abound in the Gainesville area. Residents enjoy access to treasures, such as the Morningside Nature Center, the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. additionally the cultural center of Gainesville is home to thirteen museums and galleries, including the Harn Museum of Art and the Florida Museum of Natural History. Throughout the year, the lovely and historic city of Gainesville is home to a bustling and dynamic community with a vibrant and distinctive arts
When most people think of wetlands the first thing that will pop into their mind will be visions of swamps and flooded plains. These marshy lands would seem to have no purpose, while in reality they are the most precious form of ecosystem that we have in America. Wetlands contribute to biodiversity, clean water, flood control, and provide a habitat for millions of species of plants and animals. Even with all this wetlands still face mass destruction, much like the rain forests they are just as productive and face similar rates of devastation (Mitchell, J. (1992, October). “Our Disappearing Wetlands” National Geographic, Pg 15).
The Everglades, a huge swamp at the tip of Florida, is a famous wildlife reserve. It is fed by fresh water seeping through it from a lake and river. The water forms pools, marshes, and meandering channels-it is one of the greatest wildlife sites in the world. The heart of this ecosystem is protected by the Everglades National Park, a Biosphere
Orlando is known as the Theme Park Capital of the World, and it stays true to its name. Regardless of age, these attractions aim to bring out your inner child, and inspire visiters to create lasting memories, year after year.