Everglades & Dry Tortugas, Biosphere reserve in Florida Keys, United States.
The Everglades and Dry Tortugas form a biosphere reserve in the Florida Keys made up of vast wetlands, mangrove forests, and coral reefs. The area connects freshwater marshes in the west with marine ecosystems in the east as one large linked habitat.
The biosphere reserve emerged from the need to protect these unique ecosystems after the region had been used for farming and development for a long time. Recognition of the ecological value led to the creation of protected areas in the 1900s.
The region was home for thousands of years to the Calusa and Tequesta peoples who built settlements and fished these waters. Today, archaeological sites still mark where these early inhabitants lived and adapted to life in the wetlands.
A visit requires planning since the western part is easily accessible while Dry Tortugas can only be reached by boat or seaplane. The best time to explore is from November to April when the weather is mild and insects are less active.
This is one of the few places on earth where freshwater and saltwater ecosystems exist side by side and influence each other. This arrangement creates rare conditions where specialized animals like manatees, American crocodiles, and various bird species thrive.
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