Subtropical saw-grass marsh region, southern Florida, U.S. Covering about 4,000 sq mi (10,000 sq km), the area has water moving slowly through it from the lip of Lake Mexico and Florida Bay.
Everglades National Park, established in 1934, encompasses the southwestern portion of the marsh, covering 2,354 sq mi (6,097 sq km). The largest subtropical wilderness left in the continental U.S., it has a mild climate, which provides an environment for myriad birds, alligators, snakes, and turtles. A large portion of the glades has been reclaimed by drainage canals, altering the habitats of many species.