not too far from Tamiami Trail
Slash pine shade
Pine islands are the swamp's high ground
not too far from Tamiami Trail
Swamp Uplands
A vertical rise of 2.5 feet separate the swamp’s lowest habitats from its high ground. Nose-bleeding country by no stretch, pinelands and hammocks are islands of higher and “drier” ground in the swamp. See more habitats: Cypress domes | Strands and sloughs | Swamp mosaic? | Flood and fire | Marl Prairies | Uplands | Botany | Alligators and more | Life cycle of a pond apple | mangroves
Slash pine shade
not too far from Tamiami Trail
Pine islands
As often as I hear (and use) the term,
I rarely see them as clearly as shown below.
Pine islands separated by mini cypress strands
Revealing water
Water both covers …
And reveals the landscape.
The pine islands really pop out
That’s especially the case with a winter high stand of water where the needle-free cypress make the copious cover of water easier to see.
Real pine island
Not to be confused with an island with pines
Shown below is an island full of pine trees …
In the middle of a pond.
in Everglades Nat’l Park was too deep to walk to
even in the dry season, February 2015
But don’t be confused with the real thing:
Proper pine islands in the swamp are surrounded by a sea of marl prairie and cypress, the depth of which are usually a few inches to a foot.
are ephemeral islands
in the swamp
The pine islands are still dry in Big Cypress National Preserve
