EvergladesEverglades

Alligator HolesAlligator HolesEutrophicatiomEutrophicatiomHammocksHammocksWet season/Dry seasonWet season/Dry seasonKloe water flowKloe water flow

Alligator HolesAlligator Holes

This is the most incredible This is the most incredible ecosystem of all the worlds ecosystem of all the worlds within the world of the park. within the world of the park. With feet and snout they clear With feet and snout they clear out the vegetation and muck out the vegetation and muck to make a large hole. In the to make a large hole. In the dry season, these holes are dry season, these holes are oases. Large numbers of fish, oases. Large numbers of fish, turtles, snails, and other turtles, snails, and other freshwater animals move right freshwater animals move right in with the alligators. Plants in with the alligators. Plants piled beside the hole by the piled beside the hole by the alligator decay and form soil alligator decay and form soil with mud. with mud.

HammocksHammocks

Hammocks are dense stands Hammocks are dense stands of hardwood trees that grow of hardwood trees that grow on natural rises of only a few on natural rises of only a few inches in the land. They inches in the land. They appear as teardrop-shaped appear as teardrop-shaped islands shaped by the flow of islands shaped by the flow of water in the middle of the water in the middle of the slough. Hammocks form slough. Hammocks form where the limestone bedrock where the limestone bedrock emerges above the water emerges above the water level of the everglades. level of the everglades.

Wet season/ Wet season/ Dry seasonDry season

The Everglades are typically The Everglades are typically hot and humid from May hot and humid from May through through November. Temperatures November. Temperatures reach average highs of 90°, reach average highs of 90°, 90%humity. 90%humity. Afternoon thunderstorms can Afternoon thunderstorms can be expected daily, dropping be expected daily, dropping heavy rainfalls that typically heavy rainfalls that typically subside quickly. Water levels subside quickly. Water levels rise during the wet season, rise during the wet season, animals disperse, making animals disperse, making wildlife viewing a difficult wildlife viewing a difficult endeavor. Insects will endeavor. Insects will become very abundant.become very abundant.

The Everglades are mild and The Everglades are mild and pleasant from December through pleasant from December through April, Temperatures reach April, Temperatures reach average highs of 77° and lows of average highs of 77° and lows of  53°. Strong cold fronts may  53°. Strong cold fronts may occasionally create near freezing occasionally create near freezing conditions. Mosquitoes and conditions. Mosquitoes and biting flies, become virtually non-biting flies, become virtually non-existent in most areas of the existent in most areas of the park. Water levels drop during park. Water levels drop during the dry seasonthe dry season is the dry seasonthe dry season is the time of highest visitation in the time of highest visitation in the Everglades.  One can expect the Everglades.  One can expect to find crowds of people at some to find crowds of people at some of the more popular destinations of the more popular destinations

Koe water flowKoe water flow

The KOE watershed appeared in its current form about 5,000 years ago when sea levels fell. The original watershed drained 18,000 square miles of land. By following drops of water flowing through a pristine KOE watershed, we can highlight connections to the Keys.