Heading to Florida? Check Out These Natural Treasures

By
Ian Morris
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Photo by Eve Tu on Unsplash

Florida might be world-famous for its theme parks, exciting cities, and vibrant Latin-infused culture, but did you know that this state also has all kinds of natural paradises as well?

In addition to its frequently-visited beaches, Florida is also home to various natural areas that you might be surprised by.

Here are three natural treasures that you must check out if you have a trip planned to Florida.

Everglades National Park

One of the places you must visit in Florida to see nature at its finest is Everglades National Park. Boasting a tropical swamp ecosystem that is unique in the world, visitors to this park often see native species such as alligators and great blue herons.

The Florida Keys

The Keys are a barrier island chain that extends into the sea from the southern tip of Florida. It’s full of natural wonders, especially the colorful and striking coral reef that you can discover while snorkeling there (the only one in the US). Don’t skip its untouched, virgin white sand beaches, either.

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The very first step to achieving conservation is education, so here it goes: This coral is known as an Elkhorn coral, scientific name Acropora palmata. These corals are prominent in warmer, Caribbean type waters. However, due to a disease called white-band disease, which killed off 95% of this species, they have become critically endangered. These corals contract white band disease due to climate change and increased ocean temperatures causing them physiological stress, which weakens their immune system, therefore making them more susceptible to life threatening diseases. I had the rare opportunity to observe this coral up close and personal and can say with my entire heart that we as humans must do everything we can to protect our beautiful oceans. Any small gesture will go a long way. I won’t post all of the things you can do to help conserve our planet and I know everyone on social media seems to be talking about this at the moment, but I urge you to do some research on some small steps that could help in any way. 💙

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Apalachicola National Forest

Further north in the state of Florida is Apalachicola National Forest, a protected nature reserve that hosts one of the largest southern pine forests in existence. Here, you can see all kinds of native fauna as well as wetland ecosystems and curious landscapes.