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Everglades National Park is a subtropical wilderness unlike any other in the world. Within the boundaries of its 1.5 million acres (606,688 hectares) live the endangered American Crocodile, Green Turtle, West Indian Manatee, Florida Panther and, of course, alligators. The Park also has five visitors' centres and 156 miles of boardwalk and canoe trails. The warm, extremely shallow river waters of the Everglades stretch for nearly 80 km (50 miles) towards Florida Bay. The predominately fresh rather than salt water is made thick and languorous by the expanses of algae and weeds that thrive in the hot, wet conditions.

Paddling a canoe is the recommended way to see around the park and enables you to get up close to many of the features that give the park its character such as the tree islands, home to much of the wildlife, the drooping tropical plants, cypress forests, pools, lakes and mangrove creeks. Paddle trails are commonly marked out by coloured or numbered poles and on many, like this one, motorboats are banned.

Don?t miss:Paddling to 'Sandfly Island'. It is actually built from a pile of shells by Calusa Indians. Hike the one-mile trail around the island or paddle around it in your canoe at high tide.

Try: Sports fishing in Florida Bay.

Getting around: Boat and tram tours operate regularly. Boats and canoes are also available to hire.

Getting in: The Park is open 24 hours a day, although the various visitors? centres have their own schedules. Admission is $5. Cars are charged $10.