2015 Map of Airplane Prairie

About this map

Big Cypress National Preserve dominates this portion of the Florida Everglades, revealing a landscape defined by the Public Land Survey System's rigid grid against the fluid terrain of the Big Cypress Swamp. The map highlights the unique environmental character of the region, specifically Airplane Prairie, a vast open expanse of sawgrass or wet prairie that stands in contrast to the surrounding cypress strands. Located in eastern Collier County, this 2015 survey documents the hydrology of the area, including Mud Lake on the eastern edge. The absence of traditional roads or settlements reflects the protected and primitive nature of this wilderness, where section lines and township boundaries like t51s r31e and t51s r32e serve as the primary markers for navigation and land management.