NATURAL AREAS AND REGIONS 



4.17 



Coast Line to Moorehaven. The Tanii- 

 ami Trail, Tampa to Miami, via Fort 

 Myers and Everglade will be finished 

 in 1926 and cross the lower "glades." 

 Hotels at Moorehaven and Canal 

 Point.— J. R. W. 



There are a few bird reservations in 

 Florida. One of these is about Mosquito 

 Inlet south of Daytona. 



Ten Thousand Islands. There is a 

 considerable area in the extreme south- 

 western part of the state along the Gulf 

 Coast parts of wdiich are probably in 

 a nearly natural state. This is adjacent 

 to the big Cypress Swamp. It is a 

 place of alternate mangrove islands and 

 water extending from Marco to Cape 

 Sable. Some settlements have been 

 made on the larger and higher islands. 

 Communication and lodging are such 

 that if one wished to get about he would 

 have to use a house-boat or camp. 

 A road reaches south to Marco. Boats 

 from Ft. Myer to Everglade several 

 times a week. — /. R. W. 



Gulf Hammocks. .\ region of alternate 

 hammocks, flatwoods, and swamps. 

 The hardwood forests are not suitable 

 for grazing as there is very little grass 

 in them and fire does not go through 

 easily on account of a large part of the 

 vegetation being the large-leaf ever- 

 greens, and a consequent absence of a 

 layer of pine needles and grass on the 

 ground. Furthermore, the dense shade 

 keeps the forest floor so moist that fire 

 does not readily run through it. The 

 open pasture lands have been grazed 

 and some of them burned over. The 

 hardwood forests, however, are almost 

 in their natural condition except for 

 the relative scarcity of the larger game. 

 Wild turkeys are common. Deer and 

 bear are still found in the region, but 

 of course they are not as abundant as 

 they originally were. The region is but 

 little settled and developed. 



Levy and adjoining counties. Can be 

 reached (a) from Cedar Keys, Bronson, 

 or Old Town.— ^. R. U'. 



Turnbull Hammock. A hammock of 

 considerable area. Except for clear- 



ing.s made in this land for orunp;c Rroves 

 and roads it can be siiid to he in an 

 almost natural condition except for the 

 absence of big game. The clciiring of 

 this land is so expensive that it has 

 delayed development. Some of the 

 immediate seacoast is also in an almost 

 natural state. 



East Coast. New Smyrna is in the 

 midst of it. An area still remains south 

 and west of town. — J. R. W. 



East Seacoasl Regions. Much of the 

 immediate seacoast is still in a natural 

 condition witli the exception of the 

 absence of larger game. The soil is so 

 light and poor that it is practically 

 worthless for agricultural purposes, 

 and the vegetation so scattered and of 

 such a nature that fire does not readily 

 run through it. This, however, is true 

 of only a few rods from the seashore, 

 the beach itself, and the more recent 

 of the sand dunes behind it. Except 

 in the immediate neighborhood of 

 resorts the sand dune areas are mostly 

 untouched. — J . R. W. 



h. Areas suitable for preservation 



pAllaysatakntchec Flats. (C3.) A 

 large area in St. Lucie County, Florida. 

 A savanna consisting of grassy areas 

 where the principal growth is ".saw 

 grass" alternating with "hammocks," 

 or forest patches of cabbage Pahnettoes, 

 bays, and similar semi-tropical vegeta- 

 tion usually called in Florida a "low 

 hammock."" There are many shallow 

 ponds and swamps. Wild turkey.s and 

 deer; few bears occur. A portion should 

 be preserved. 



Ft. Pierce I, 12 mi. west, or Okee- 

 chobee, Fla. East Coast Ry, 10 nn. 

 northeast. § (a) Good roads extend 

 through the tract.—/''. M. O'Bijrur. 



pDevil's Mill Hopper. (Do.) Tins is 

 a large deep "sink" in a limestone region. 

 Several small streams flow into it hut 

 the outlet is so large tiiat there is little 

 or no standing pool in tlie bottom. ISO 

 ft. deep. The steep sides are covered 

 with a dense southeastern climax forest. 



Cainesvillet, A. C. L. Ry. au<l Sea- 

 board Rv. 7 mi. N.W., or Paradise. 

 A. C. L.'Rv. 3 mi. W. (a). 



pTIie Kven/lades. (A4.) 



This area is being drained. A portion 

 should be preserved in its natural state. 

 Miamit, Moorehaven (a, c)X. 



