Aerial view of Everglades National Park, Florida

Follow the flow. End of American Wetlands Month

Today is the last day of American Wetlands Month, but don't let that bog you down. Take today to shine a spotlight on wetlands. Held throughout May, this national observance shines a spotlight on wetlands—some of the most productive ecosystems in the United States—and few places show their power quite like Everglades National Park. From above, Florida's iconic wetlands unfold as a vast patchwork of shallow water, sawgrass, mangroves, and winding channels, shaped by freshwater slowly flowing south from Lake Okeechobee.

Covering about 1.5 million acres, the Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in the country and a vital refuge for birds, fish, reptiles, and rare species such as the Florida panther. Wetlands also work behind the scenes, filtering pollutants, storing carbon, reducing floods, and helping supply clean water to nearby communities.

American Wetlands Month invites us to appreciate these watery landscapes—from above and on the ground—and recognize why protecting them matters long after May ends.