Corkscrew Swamp

Though I had previously visited Corkscrew when I was much younger, getting the opportunity to go again and experience it as an adult has given me a much different insight into just how special of a place that it is. The thing that took me aback the most was the fact that there were almost no mosquitoes in the entirety of the swamp. This fact really spoke to the health of this ecosystem to me, as the abundance of aquatic life being supported represents the clean water and food supply that is available at the swamp. I loved the view in areas where the cypress trees thinned a bit and you could see out into the distance, like in the picture below.

Having grown up camping throughout Florida, it was very fun to go into this environment that looks so different and vibrant compared to some of the other wilderness locations in the state. I didn't remember the alligator flag plants and how prevalent they were throughout the swamp, and learning about how the Seminoles used them and other plants to navigate canoes and avoid predators made me realize how much more in-tune with nature they were than we are today. I don't think anyone of us has enough survival knowledge to survive in that kind of place, so it really does take you back in time to the great history of our state.

When you visit it and think about how Corkscrew represents the natural condition that Florida used to be in, it makes you wonder how things got to be like they are today. Society has misjudged the value of the wildlife and unique ecosystems of the state, prioritizing trivial things like putting plumes on hats instead of considering for a second the birds that they were attached to. What about completely changing the natural water-flow of the state for the benefit of agricultural entities? These endeavors have had disastrous consequences  for the environment here in Florida, and if we don't start taking steps now to ensure that similar things don't happen again in the future. To me, the fact that I saw three pileated woodpeckers there when I've never seen one before is enough of a reason to want to protect nature like that. These unique places mean so much more to Florida than Disney World ever could. I hope other people might come to see it like that as well.

(it's a lot less expensive than going to Disney too!)