If
there is one place in the whole gulf region (or in all of
the lower 48 states) to experience a primeval
environment, Southwest Florida is it. The cypress and
mangrove swamps along the state's Gulf Coast offer a
wonderful opportunity to see the land and the wildlife
that existed here long before even the earliest Native
Americans arrived after their long trek from Siberia.
Whether exploring the Everglades, or the swamps that lie
just north of the River of Grass, the visitor is
overwhelmed by a feeling that this is a timeless natural
environment, where life is as it should be: a cooperative
ecosystem where interrelated worlds are like a
finely-tuned orchestra, all in perfect pitch and guided
by the wizardly composer and conductor who have
collaborated to produce as perfect a natural system as
exists anywhere in the world. Because there is no
continuous history of human habitation in the area, the
real natives are the ancient cypreess, twisted mangroves,
palmettos, and sedges, along with the alligators,
crocodiles, herons, snakes, manatees, and turtles, all of
which been here from the beginning of recorded
time.
Swamps
&
Islands
For
anyone who has not experienced the perfection of a
well-made swamp, the very word causes shudders.
Swamps
reek!
And
the fetid waters harbor dangerous animals like alligators
and crocodiles. Warm swamps have lots of mosquitoes, and
it's hard to hike through swampy places. Because the
wildlife is mostly hiding in the water, muck, and thick
vegetation, birds and animals are sometimes hard to spot.
There are lots of plausible reasons for avoiding these
difficult places. Swamps are not for the faint of heart,
nor are they particularly useful to those who have only a
limited amount of time for exploration. At least, that's
what we tend to believe.
But
with the proper attitude, and a reasonable amount of time
spent in looking under the smelly and murky exterior,
Florida's southern swamps become wonderlands of life that
offer superb recreational opportunities and
life-affirming adventure. However, the "swamps" of
Southwestern Florida are not really swamps as we know
them elsewhere. They are fresh water wetlands, with the
water flowing slowly through islands to the western
Everglades.
Five
natural places, close to the southwestern tip of Florida,
must be seen for one to truly appreciate the dichotomy
between the timeless, unchanging natural environment of
the South Florida swamps and the transient nature of the
barrier islands. Big Cypress National Preserve is
part of the Big Cypress Swamp, a northward extension of
the Everglades. It is a landscape characterized by slowly
moving and still water, and slightly-raised cypress
hammocks. The southern part of the Florida National
Scenic Trail offers hikes through a cross-section of
the preserve.
Fakahatchee
Strand State Preserve is also part of the Big Cypress
Swamp, but is not part of the national preserve. It
offers a fine scenic drive.
Collier-Seminole
State Park, where the Tamiami Trail curves northward,
is a relatively small protected area of the same swamp,
offering hiking and camping, as well as boating and
canoeing access to the coast and the Ten Thousand
Islands.
Corkscrew
Swamp Sanctuary contains the nation's largest stand
of virgin bald cypress. Located due east of Marco Island,
owned by the National Audubon Society, the sanctuary
occupies 11,000 acres of the Big Cypress Swamp, with
trees estimated to be as old as 700 years and growing to
a height of 130 feet. A boardwalk leads through the
swamp, providing access to more than 700 species of
plants and animals.
This
is a wonderful part of Florida to explore with kids. The
smells, the water, the gnarled trees, and the diverse
wildlife combine to provide an adventure with nature at
its best.
For
our tour of Southwest Florida attractions
