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Everglades National ParkSea Grass Underwater
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Everglades National Park
Ecosystems: Marine & Estuarine
 
Underwater Scene

Florida Bay, the largest body of water within Everglades National Park, contains over 800 square miles (2072 square km) of marine bottom, much of which is covered by submerged vegetation. Seagrass and algae provide shelter and sustenance to numerous marine organisms, which in turn sustain the food chain that supports all higher vertebrates in the bay. 

The hard bottom areas of the bay are home to corals and sponges, and lure anglers from around the world to try their luck with rod and reel. In fact, a wide variety of commercially and recreationally important fish, crustaceans, and mollusks thrive within the estuarine environments of the Everglades. The continued health of these marine environments is important in sustaining productive fisheries outside park boundaries. 

Aerial View of the Harney River
Other Everglades Ecosystems
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Butterfly Orchid in Bloom
Plants of the Everglades
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Did You Know?  

Did You Know?
Many of the orchids found within the Everglades are "epiphytic," growing on host trees that are used for support. This adaptation allows a variety of plants to grow in an otherwise harsh environment.

Last Updated: July 30, 2007 at 10:11 EST