Ochopee - Big Cypress National Preserve

This 730,000-acre reserve protects part of the larger 2,400 square mile Big Cypress Swamp that covers a large section of Southwestern Florida. Throughout time the Big Cypress Swamp was a refuge for the likes of the Miccosukee Tribe, the Seminole Tribe and early settlers. The area is composed of a variety of different terrains and plant-life including marshland, hardwood hammocks, dry prairies and mangrove islands. It is named for the bald and dwarf cypress trees found within its confines. Animals in the preserve include herons, snakes, wild turkeys, deer, alligators and the rare Florida panther.