The Everglades

This passage details the wonders of the Everglades National Park.

Lexile Level: 860L

Categories: People & Places Animals & Nature

The Everglades is a fascinating ecosystem in the southwest corner of Florida. The land is wet and swampy. The average height of the land is barely one foot above the level of the sea. The water in the creeks and rivers flows only two miles per day on average. The Everglades contains freshwater and salt water. As a result, the ecosystem is home to both alligators, who like freshwater, and crocodiles, who like salt water. It is home to dolphins, sharks, and manatees too. In summer the place is so buggy and filled with mosquitoes that humans rarely go there. It is home to cougars and raccoons, which have to swim from island to island. Most of the area is dominated by saw grass, a grass that can grow on land or in a little bit of water. The plants and animals in the Everglades it unique.