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Everglades:
Overview Eventually people began to recognize the various functions of wetlands ecosystems, including their importance as a habitat for many unique species of microorganisms, plants, and animals. By this time, however, agriculture was thriving, and Florida residents depended on the Everglades' water. Citizens of southern Florida also needed flood control. In an attempt to satisfy everyone and to protect the remaining Everglades, the government divided the land. Of the original 3,000,000 acre historic Everglades, the northern 1,000,000 acres were designated the Everglades Agricultural Area (E.A.A.). Today, most of this land is used to raise sugarcane. The southern 1,500,000 acres of the original Everglades were dedicated in 1947 as the Everglades National Park. The park consists of many types of wetlands that offer habitat to a wide variety of plants and animals. The remaining 500,000 acres, located in the middle of the historic Everglades, became a water conservation area with a system of canals, dams and dikes used to control the flooding in large Florida cities. Photo: Aerial view of Everglades National Park. Photo courtesy of South Florida Water Management District. Overview
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