Covering approximately 4.8 million acres this massive area is made up of The Everglades National Park (1.75 million acres), The Big Cypress National Preserve (800,000 acres), Everglades and Francis Tayler Wildlife Management Area (700,000 acres), Southern Glades (350,000 acres), and about a dozen other conservatories. The Everglades is made up of coastal mangroves, sawgrass marshes and pine flatwoods that are home to hundreds of animal species. Among the Everglades' abundant wildlife are the endangered leatherback turtle, Florida panther and West Indian manatee. Flat bottom boats driven by huge fans is the most common form of travel since the depth of the water can be as little as 2 or 3 inches.
There are only a few roads heading East to West that cross the terrain, however, there are regular rest stops along the way manned by several Rangers and rescue professionals.
One easily, and quickly, feels that time has stopped here and that one is being drawn out of the present into some distant point in history. The calls, and cries, of hundreds of animals fill the air as the swamp almost swallows the average tourist.