If you are fascinated by the tropical wildlife of Florida and want to do an Airboat Ride, then Gator Park is the place for you to visit the next time you vacation in Miami.
Today we went to the Gator Park in the Heart of the Everglades National Park. Gator Park is 12 miles west of the Florida Turnpike on SW 8th Street:
Gator Park Inc.
24050 SW 8th Street
Miami, Florida 33194
1-800-559-2205
305-559-2255
www.GatorPark.com
The Everglades National Park is known for its vast wildlife. There are hundreds of bird species, many of which are on the endangered or threatened list. You’ll be able to see lots of large wading birds, such as the roseate spoonbill, great blue heron, white ibis and a variety of egrets, as well as the osprey.
The Everglades’ marine life includes more than 200,000 alligators as well as American crocodiles. In abundance are fish such as large mouth bass, redfish, snapper, blue gil and catfish.
Gator Park Airboat Tour
The Gator Park Airboat Tour begins slowly down the canal with plenty of opportunity to observe wildlife in its natural habitat. Gator Park has experienced and professional guides who will help you spot alligators, both large adult and small immature alligators, soft-shelled turtles and numerous birds (be sure to keep your camera ready and hold it tight). One of the first alligators you are likely to spot is Jumbo. An impressive 6 feet in length, Jumbo likes to play host and greet Gator Park’s guests.
You’ll also pass a replica of a common fishing camp used by Indians, a structure made of palm and cypress wood, called a chickee.
Then, you’ll pick up speed and head for the river of grass. Out here there is no dry land, except for the tree covered islands called hammocks. On these hammocks you can find mammals such as raccoons, whitetail deer and wild boar.
The Everglades was coined “The River of Grass” by Marjory Stoneman Douglas in 1969 because the water is not stagnant like that in swamps, but instead travels very slowly from north to south. The Everglades is one of the world’s largest and slowest flowing rivers.
The water isn’t too deep, averaging only eight to twelve inches, depending on the rainfall. It is also as warm as bath water, about 85-90 degrees at high noon during the summer. Because the water pertains to a wetland system, you’ll notice that is also clean and odorless.
Gator Park’s airboats, all sporting Cadillac engines and high performance airplane propellors. The tours depart from the docks every 20-30 minutes throughout the day! If you are lucky you will get a funny tour guide like we did who gave us lots of educational information in a fun way. Before i show you some pictures and videos, here are some fun facts:
Did you know that the Everglades is the only ecosystem in the world where alligators and crocodiles co-exist side by side? Although alligators only thrive in fresh water because they can’t digest salt, crocodiles can live in both fresh and salt water. The Everglades is unique because fresh water in the Florida Bay meets the salt water of the Gulf of Mexico!
Other interesting facts include:
- There are over 200,000 alligators in the Everglades and 1.5 million in the state of Florida!
- Alligators live in the coastal plains of the southeastern United States and Central American both natural and man-made freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, and wetland areas.
- Alligators do not eat human beings! However, they will protect and defend themselves, attacking and killing humans if they get too close or endanger their young.
- Alligators are territorial and frequently get into fights defending their space. As a result, you’ll often see alligators scarred on their head and body or with a missing body part such as a tail, leg or eye.
- Alligators are also solitary reptiles. You’ll only see them in large groups during mating season, in the spring. Usually 30-40 eggs incubate for approximately 60-65 days and hatchlings are usually 8-10 inches long.
- Alligators have 68 percent muscle and the male alligator can grow up to 12 feet and weigh 400-500 pounds while the female alligator usually grows to 8-9 feet.
- Alligator jaws have over 1,000 pounds of closing pressure! Yikes!
- Alligators have approximately 80 teeth. When they wear down or are lost in battle, they are replaced with new teeth. An alligator can go through 2,000 to 3,000 teeth in a lifetime!
- A lifetime for an alligator is approximately 30-35 years in the wild and they can live past 50 years in captivity.
- Alligators’ main diet consists primarily of fish but they also feed on turtles, mammals, snakes and birds.
- Often you’ll see only the gator’s head in the water, not its body. This way they can more easily strike their prey, such as fish, without being detected.
- Alligators regulate their temperatures, not by perspiring, but by moving out of the sun and into the shade. There they rest with their mouths open to release stored heat. They also cool off by going to the water.
- Because of legal protection, alligators are no longer endangered. They are, however, still classified as threatened to insure their continued protection and that of the endangered American crocodile.
- The alligator is the mascot of the University of Florida at Gainesville. Go Gators!
Here a quick video of our Gator Park day. Enjoy:
Talk soon
Dennis Koray
Skype: denniskoray
email: info@denniskoray.com
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