The Everglades
In Florida, there is a huge area of nine million (9,000,000) acres of wet, swampy land, covered with tall saw grass. There are many slow moving streams of water and stretches of quicksand. This area is called the Florida Everglades. Many animals live in the Florida Everglades including poisonous snakes, panthers, bobcats, alligators, deer, otter, turtles, fish, and birds. There are beautiful flowering plants. It is a very dangerous place.
Hammocks: Dotted here and there in the Everglades are pieces of firm ground positioned a few inches above the water. These firm pieces of ground are called hammocks. They are islands in the swamp. Hammocks vary in size from a footstep to an acre or more. Many support thick forests. Some only look solid but are actually quicksand that can suck you under.
Waterways: Waterways run everywhere through the Everglades. Some waterways are only a few inches deep. Others are 3 or 4 feet deep. The waterways are filled with alligators and poisonous water snakes.
Alligators are aggressive and they dominate the winding waterways of the Everglades. They feed off other animals in the 'glades and can detect even the slightest movement in the water. So, if you're wondering if it's safe to go swimming in the Everglades, the answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT.