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Florida's Myakka River and State Park |
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 Myakka River
and the
State Park
The Myakka River and its adjoining state park is a great place to search for bromeliads, epiphytes, bird watch, goggle at the "gators", or just experience a bit of the serenity that was once "old Florida". Myakka is Florida's largest state park, encompassing some 28,850 acres, and providing a wide variety of habitats that in turn support a varied assortmant of wildlife and plants. The Myakka river courses through the park for a little over twelve miles and within the confines of the park splits into two lakes, the Upper Myakka Lake and the lower Myakka Lake. The Myakka was designated a "Florida Wild and Scenic River" by the State Legislature in 1985. It is one of only two rivers in Florida to be recognized with this special status.
Between the two lakes are extensive marshes. Other habitats found within the park include pine woodlands, oak-palm forest, dry prairie, subtropical hammocks, ponds, marshes and riparian growth. All teem with different forms of wildlife and abound with plant life.
While the abundant alligators draw most of the attention from visitors, it is the bird life that provides the greatest diversity and numbers. The park is home to such raptors as bald eagles, osprey, and several kinds of hawks and owls. Wading birds include egrets, several heron species, white ibis, limpkins and numerous others. Anhingas and cormorants can be seen diving for fish, especially in the lake areas. Wood ducks are year-round residents but during the winter months are joined by large numbers of migratory waterfowl.
The Florida dry prairie, a habitat once a conspicuous part of the Florida landscape, but now almost completely eliminated from most of the state, is home to sandhill cranes, burrowing owls and the endangered grasshopper sparrow. The prairie lands that were once extensive elsewhere have given way to plow and pavement. There is an 8,500-acre prairie located adjacent to the State Park that is managed by the park staff.
Besides all the aquatic species, other conspicuous plant life includes enormous live oaks with long strands of Spanish moss, sabal palms, and of course the epiphytes. Myakka is home to at least six tillandsia species, Tillandsia setacea, T. utriculata, T. usneoides, T fasciculata, and T. recurvata.
The Visitor's Information Center is a good place to get your bearings and learn about the park, its wildlife and its history.
While wildlife viewing and the scenic setting are the main attractions to Myakka, other facilities include hiking trails (38 miles of trails), boat ramps, canoe runs, bridle paths, bicycle paths, and a "tram safari" tour. There are also two very large airboats that ply the lake waters with guides pointing out and identifying the wildlife and other park features for visitors.
As if that weren't enough, the newest addition to the Myakka State Park will be of special interest to people interested in epiphytic plants such as bromeliads. A public canopy walkway was added, both for scientific research and to allow public access to a world that few other than the canopy researchers have ever seen. The walkway is 85 feet long, is suspended 25 feet above the ground and leads to a tower that rises 74 feet above the surrounding woodland. The walkway is one of several now in North America, but the only one in a subtropical forest.
For those wanting to stay overnight, campsites and five rustic cabins are available.
Call (941) 361-6511 for information and reservations, or write to:
Myakka River State Park, 13207 S.R. 72
Sarasota, Florida 34241
Or visit their website at:
http://www.myakkariver.org/
http://www.freewebs.com/jacksbromeliads/ |
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Posted by Jackson74 on Saturday, December 01, 2007 (07:21:24) (481 reads)
comments? |   | Score: 0 |
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 Gallery of succulents added on site..
You can find more here |
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Posted by Marcus on Monday, January 29, 2007 (13:15:31) (320 reads)
comments? | | Score: 0 |
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Gallery of succulents added on site..
You can find more here |
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Posted by Dragonfly CMS Team on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 (09:31:45) (80 reads)
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Last posts
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Plants World
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MiniChat
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Isomorphix: Getting better, Kuchlar. Thanks for caring. Yes, winter is strange. We have cherry trees in bloom, daffodils & other spring flowers & then it snows!!! Only a little but it should be warm, not like this. Oh well, for us here, spring is the crazy season - anything goes!
31-Mar-2008 22:43:10 kuchlar: huh, winter is for everyone kind of depressing, here in macedonia we are dealing with very very cold spring, firstly it was very very warm and now is snowing..the deasaster is that i have planted many seeds and tender bulbs....iso hope that you are ok now 
28-Mar-2008 17:35:45 Isomorphix: Hi Jekka. I've been holed up this winter, dealing with MAJOR depression. Just starting to surface now. It's ok - I'm used to winter SAD but had extra things happen plus the worse winter in many years so was worse this time. Hope to be around more in the future. 
26-Mar-2008 22:37:15 Jekka: Iso!! Where have you been?!
26-Mar-2008 22:26:10 evodevo: Helo Kuchlar and Sladolez, It is really good to see both of you here.
04-Mar-2008 20:53:59 Sladolez: Hallo to all! Where are you people? I hope your plants are lush  Greetings
01-Mar-2008 04:09:32 kuchlar: hey evo! nice seeing you again
25-Feb-2008 13:38:55 evodevo: My friends, I am back. I am happy to see you still here.
24-Feb-2008 20:42:37 Amalie63: Hello, anyone out there? 
18-Feb-2008 15:13:43 Jekka: Hi and goodnight
25-Jan-2008 17:52:31
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