The mix of water near the Florida Bay is also ideal for some plants, like the Red mangroves. These trees also thrive in tidal waters, where freshwater from the Everglades mixes with saltwater. Everglades National Park boast contains the largest contiguous stand of protected mangrove forest in the hemisphere.
Mangrove habitat serves as a valuable nursery for a variety of important marine species. During the dry months, wading birds congregate here to feed and nest. And during the summer months, these mangrove forests provide the first line of defense against the howling winds and storm surge of hurricanes
Photo taken at: Everglades National Park