America's Landscapes

Everglades 

With only two distinct everglades systems in the world, the Everglades National Park in Florida being one of them, the other is located in Australia. Protecting over 1.5 million acres of diverse wetland, marine-life, and native plants, the everglades were the first national park to be instituted for its biodiversity. The Everglades is home to both alligators and crocodiles, being the only place in the world with this phenomenon. The alligators prefer to be near freshwater which is inland, while crocodiles are found in smaller groups near the coastline. Nicknamed the “river of grass”, the Florida everglade is actually a slow moving river that spreads 60 miles wide and more than 100 miles long. Being the largest subtropical wilderness remaining in North America, the everglades are home to thousands of species of animals, most notably the expansive bird population. Located between North America and the warm, tropical Caribbean, the subtropical environment contains flora and fauna from both climates. 

Redwood Forest 

Located in California, the Redwood National Park is home to the tallest trees in the world. The Redwood forest expands over 200 miles from open coastline to dense forest, full of lush landscape and huge trees. Averaging over 300 feet, the Coast redwood is taller than the Statue of Liberty. The three species of redwoods–Coast Redwood, Dawn Redwood, and Giant Sequoias–descend from Conifers, which prospered over 140 million years ago when dinosaurs wandered the earth. With a naturally thick bark, Redwoods are fire-resistant and can re-sprout when damaged. The impressive regenerative ability keeps the trees safe from environmental problems, but not from manmade issues. About 95% of the original Redwood forest is gone from the 19th century logging boom. A new preservation program called “Redwoods  Rising” hopes to restore the trees to their original population. 

Yellowstone basin 

Being the world's first national park, Yellowstone expands over 3,400 square miles, making the park roughly fifty times larger than Washington D.C. Covering three states–Montana, Idaho, and primarily Wyoming–Yellowstone is the second largest national park in the contiguous United States. Despite hiking trails and an abundance of wildlife, most visitors come for the hydrothermal wonders. Hotsprings, mudpots, fumaroles, and geysers are all located in the park, housing over 10,000 hydrothermal features. Over half of the world’s active geysers are found in Yellowstone, making the park a geological wonder. 

Microorganisms, sometimes thermophiles, build homes in the hydrothermal features of the park. Although too small to be seen, the microorganisms appear to be mats of color, which is what gives the hot springs that orangey-blue look. Hot springs are simply pools of hydrothermally heated water, while geysers are hot springs that erupt periodically because of a build up of pressure. Mudpots are also hot springs that are so acidic that they dissolve the rock surrounding it, and bubble occasionally. Despite their beauty, the springs can get up to over 200℉, which can cause fatal burns. In fact, hot springs have caused more than double the fatalities that bears have in the park.