When you drive highway 95 and cross the border between Georgia and Florida, you always see a big signboard "WELCOME TO FLORIDA!" with a picture of a lady walking her alligator on a string. And, yes, welcome to Florida, the land of alligators and wild nature, the land of contrasts where great modern cities and fashionable resorts are surrounded with wild jungle, where stepping out of the 5 star hotel you can see an alligator crossing the street or a monkey sitting on the palm trying to throw a banana right onto your head, where live many nations and where is always summer!
If I were asked to name a few "Floridian" animals,
I would say they are alligators(or just gators, as we say), pelicans, and manatees (lamatees) although there are also very many monkeys, racoons, squirrels, Floridian long tailed cockatoos here. One may also meet American pumas(coguars), Floridian black bears, foxes, coyotes and other animals, especially in the wildlife refuges. Floridian fauna is very rich, wild and mostly protected by law.
But I think the beauty of Florida is its wild nature. Here we have a few wildlife refuges where you can see primordial undeveloped land. Sure, Everglades is the most well-known and popular (Miami area), but there are also two others. We live close to one of them. It is Crystal River National Park.
The other is a rather large wildlife refuge Silver Springs we visited last Saturday(on the left). Only the park occupies 60,000 aсres (about 24 sq.km)! So, to see all around, you should board a special vehicle or a glass-bottom boat and take part in the excursions or you can hire a canoe and travel yourself. So, we dicided to board a Jeep Safari (land), Jungle Cruise and the Lost River Voyage (water).
One of the most inordinary things in that park is
glass-bottom boats where you can see everything in the water very clearly. You can even take pictures. It is how they look from iniside. Anyway, the greatest is nature that you see all around. It is like Florida looked many thousand years ago. The official symbol of Florida is a coconut tree. You can see it on our coat of arms and the flag.
But I would say it is a southern oak, a relict tree that makes our land so fantastic. When you happen to get to that relict forest, you can easily imagine Tarzan living up on one of those oaks being breast-fed and raised by a monkey. As a matter of fact 1930 Tarzan movie was shot in Silver Springs.
There are so many magic places there! I'd like to add at least one more picture!
However, speaking about Florida I have to say you ought to see our sunsets! They are unforgetable! I was told that reflected sunsets can be seen only here. I mean when the sun goes down and you look at the sky you can't imagine where the west is. They are so very different, beautiful and romantic! I wish you all would see this beauty and realize that our planet is the only one comfortable place for us to live.
I think it is impossible to tell everything in one blog. So, if you get interested, I will post a few more.
Comments
Dear Tara! Thank YOU! Unfortunately, I can't invite you to Miami, but if your kids read my new blog about Crystal River and like it, I will gladly invite you all to our place and be your guide.
Thank you so much for sharing this post! We visited the Miami area last November. My kids are begging to go back. (They have no interest in going to Disney World, but they love the cars, beaches, pools, wildlife, and weather in South Florida.)
Yes, we enjoyed sunset in quest. It was just fantastic to see sinking sun in the water and realize it was peering in my country, Bangladesh! Nice and eye-catching blog. Want to read more.
Dear friends! I am so glad you like Florida. This land is worth visiting!
In my last trip we wanted to visit the everglades since they were not too far from Miami, where we stayed but we had to decide whether going there or visiting some old friends in Hollywood (fl). We opted for the second not to get in trouble haha..
Btw, you live in a really wonderful land. I told my wife to go there when I'll retire :D
Dear Elen! I am at home today so, I can reply at once.
First, thanks for your kind comment. Most of people forget they are a part of nature and destroy it making their lives more comfortable. But nature will always take it revange, sooner or later. We should live in harmony with the world surrounding us. We are the links of the same chain. If at least one link is broken, the chain will be lost forever.
As to monkeys.Many people have monkeys as pets here. One of our professors has a monkey family. I don't really know how many of them! But the alpha monkey is a female. It is so interesting to watch them! They are smart and want to learn from people!
No, I am not scared of gators. They are not aggressive at all if you don't disturb them. Many people are much more aggressive.
Unfortunately, the size of a blog is limited. I couldn't wrire more, but I will some later.
Thank you for this introductory blog Danny, i am impressed. The wildlife is so close to people's life. Don't you afraid alligators? And i have a question about monkeys. Do people have them as a pet? Because i know that some people have a monkey as a pet, even if it is something rare here.
It is an interesting topic and yes, i would like to read more about it.