Atlanta (global-adventures.us): The largest subtropical wilderness in the United States is the destination of an expedition for photographers, developed by Imagine Your World (www.imagine-your-world.com). The Everglades National Park in Florida protects a fragile ecosystem of subtropical wetlands that is shaped by water and fire. Flooding is frequent during the wet season, and fires pose a constant hazard during dry spells.
The complex ecosystem is feed by a slow moving river that originates in Lake Okeechobee and includes sawgrass marshes, cypress swamps, estuarine mangrove forests, tropical hardwood hammocks, pine 
rockland, and the marine environment of Florida Bay. After years of development that threatened to destroy the ecosystem, the UNESCO designated the Everglades as a World Heritage Site and one of only three wetland areas of global importance.
The Everglades are home to thirty-six species designated as threatened or protected, including the West Indian manatee, the American crocodile, and the Florida panther. Wildlife and nature photographers will find an abundance of shooting opportunities in the International Biosphere Reserve.
Over 28 miles (45 kilometers) of trails that connect south Florida's pinelands are accessible from the Long Pine Key Campground that will provide shelter for the first two nights of the expedition. Pinelands are simply higher ground ‘islands.’ They are the most diverse habitat in Everglades National Park and less frequently flooded than the surrounding open wet prairies. Over 200 species of subtropical plants grow here and provide one of the last refuges for the Florida panther.
The Flamingo Campground is home for the next two nights. The camp offers a peaceful, tranquil setting on the side of the Florida Bay right next to the water. Alligators and exotic birds are common around the Flamingo marina and canal. Weather permitting, photographers will explore the Buttonwood Canal by canoe or take the 6.8 mile (10.9 kilometer) Mud Lake Loop that connects the Buttonwood Canal, Coot Bay, Mud Lake, and the Bear Lake Canoe Trail.
On day 5, participants will have a chance to visit the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum at Big Cypress. The outstanding Seminole museum features educational exhibits on Seminole history and showcases the life of the tribe today. A reservation boardwalk winds through a beautiful 60-acre cypress dome and offers another view of the unique flora and fauna of the Everglades. In the Living Village, tribal members will usually be on hand to answer questions, and the ceremonial grounds offer some insight into a traditional Seminole meeting place that was used for political and religious events. Traditional arts are passed on from generation to generation and special techniques and working skills are demonstrated in a dedicated exhibit.
During the expedition, photographers will be able to participate in a workshop, test new gear, upgrade their skills on image processing, or learn more about marketing tools available to present and sell their work (topics vary depending on the date of the tour booked). Some of the seminars are sponsored by manufacturers; others are presented by experienced photo journalists and editors.
Global Adventures, LLC (www.global-adventures.us) is offering the expedition in cooperation with Imagine Your World, a leading photography website. In 2012, photographers will have a chance to explore some European and South American countries. Highlights planned will include trips to France and Malta. Advance reservations are required for the tour “The Everglades National Park.” Please refer to http://www.imagine-your-world.com/tours/everglades/ for more details and travel dates available.
Global Adventures, LLC is a leading tour operator specializing in tours and expeditions for photographers, scuba divers, and cyclists. The company is also a distributor for scuba diving gear, bicycles, and bicycle parts. To keep up-to-date on the latest news from Global Adventures, LLC, please sign up for the company's RSS news feed by visiting http://www.global-adventures.us/feed/rss/ or follow discussions on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Global-Adventures-LLC/131527976230?v=wall and Twitter at http://twitter.com/berndlaeschke.
Imagine Your World features award winning photography, plus news and reviews covering cameras, lenses, and digital image processing. The company operates a storefront at http://www.imagine-your-world.smugmug.com/.
The NASA image shows the southern half of Florida. The ecosystem known as The Everglades begins south of Orlando. The Kissimmee River transports water into Lake Okeechobee. Water exiting the lake on the southern end flows slowly through sawgrass marshes, cypress swamps, and mangrove forests before it finally reaches Florida Bay. Photo: NASA/Public Domain
