1.31.2024
Kenny is fascinated with all things historical, especially military. So when we learned that there was a Nike missile site in The Everglades visiting the site was on the top of the list. As we were driving south to The Keys we took a slight detour and stopped for a tour which included the site. At the time of booking we didn't realize we would be staying a couple of miles away in a couple of weeks.
The Everglades is National Park #20 for us. We keep track by getting stamps in our National Parks Passport and by scratching off the space on our poster on our wall.
We were amazed at how clear the water in the Everglades is. This photo is through about 10 feet of water and the bottom was easy to see.
We saw this alligator and two babies. Look closely at the picture under the big alligator. You can see the baby in the bottom right of the picture. The other is much more hidden in the grass.
Air plant. Look carefully for the red shoot.
Another air plant. This one with two shoots.
The Everglades is largely made-up of limestone bedrock that is just below the surface. It is an ancient coral reef that died when water receded and the reef was exposed. It is easy to see the limestone in many places.
Sawgrass
It is surprising how much the water moves. I've always heard the term river of grass, but I didn't really get it until I saw it.
Cottonmouth. Luckily I took this through a window on the bus.
This is the dog kennel from the days when the missile site was Top Secret. There was a large group of dogs that defended the space.
Missile storage facility.
Alligator hole.
The Everglades started as a state park called Royal Palms.
This deeper area is called a Borrow Hole. It is where we "borrowed" material from the ground to make walls and walkways.
Royal Palms
Adult Strangler Fig. It has killed its original host tree and now exists on its own.
The Everglades looks very much like the African Savannah.
Right in the center of this picture is a Yellow Bellied Warbler.
Cormorant
Purple Gallinule
This fruit is edible, but its seeds are toxic.
American Gallinule
Blue Heron
This was a great tour by Everglades National Park Institute.
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