2024 Map of Shark Valley Lookout Tower

About this map

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness forms the core of this vast wetland landscape, where the seasonal flow of the Shark River Slough and East Slough dictates the ecology of the region. This 2024 survey documents the convergence of major conservation areas, including Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve, along the boundary of Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. Human presence is limited to the Nwst Rte 224 Shark Valley Loop Road Trl and a network of remote paths like the Boundary Line Trl. Scattered throughout the sawgrass are distinct tree islands such as Dogwood Hammock, Iron Pot Hammock, and Seagrape Hammock, which provide critical dry ground. The presence of Rattlesnake Ridge further illustrates the subtle topographic variations that define this unique subtropical environment.