A stand of slash pines and sawgrass prairie, Everglades National Park, Florida, USA
© Jonathan Gewirtz/Tandem Stills + Motio
'Everglad' to be here. Everglades National Park, Florida, USA
On this day, 90 years ago, an act was passed that would lead to the creation of one of America's natural gems: The Everglades National Park. This park in Florida encapsulates the largest subtropical wilderness of the United States. The Everglades, spanning more than 1.5 million acres, is a lifeline to 36 federally protected and endangered wildlife, from the gentle manatee to the stealthy Florida panther. Here, the air thrums with the calls of over 350 bird species like limpkins and snail kites, while the waters teem with life too: fish, like snook and redfish and American crocodiles are all found here. Beyond its biodiversity, the park has earned global recognition, celebrated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve and a Wetland of International Importance. So, here's to Everglades National Park—may it continue to inspire wonder, curiosity and appreciation for the wild world around us.