Journal 7

I'm not too positive about what to say on the Majory Stoneman Douglas article, "The Nature of the Everglades". There were parts that I thought were interesting but more or less it was not as intriguing as the other articles and videos we have experienced. One thing that was pretty unbelievable was to be given an unbelievable picture through the writing of the author. Whether you have experienced the Everglades or not, this writing gives such a detailed description that you can picture every part of the Everglades in your mind. It was a very peaceful article which I think the author did to give the feel to what the actual Everglades is all about. A wide expanse of nature living together in a very mysterious manner that has baffeled people about the reason for it's existance in the first place. I enjoyed how the author related all the parts of the Everglades showing that every part is necessary and intricate in keeping the ecosystem alive. From the sun and rain, to the unseen rock below, the article relates every aspect to one another.
In relating everything, I thought it was interesting to see how big of an impact all of Florida has un this fragile ecosystem. Starting from the lakes and "unknown creeks and rivers" in northern Florida all the way to the outlets into the oceans, the entire state plays some sort of roll in keeping the Everglades alive. When talking about the rainy and dry seasons, it made me think of all of the information we have received on the polution of our rivers and lakes which gets poured into our oceans. If the Everglades rely so much on the water traving from streams and rivers, then how much are we destroying the ecosystem there? Vast plant and animal life depends on the marshes and tall grasses provided by the Everglades, and it is not a stretch to believe that all life there is being affected not only by pollution, but by development and trapping. It is interesting to read however, that it is almost impossible for a man to make his way to the middle of the Everglades into the tall sawgrass, and be able to find his way back out. It is almost like there is a natural protection against any sort of development that people don't even have the means to destroy the environment because of the natural barriers.
In a way, it is a beautiful and intricate ecosystem, but to people, it is just a place that cannot be used for some sort of consumption, so it goes "under the radar" so to speak. Is there anything that humans really want from the Everglades? I'm sure the flora and fauna aren't offended that we don't think their habitat is useful. In fact, I'm sure their completely okay with it.