20 FLORIDA.

its waters into the Gulf, is an important stream, as are also
Peace Creek, which falls into Charlotte Harbor, and the


Caloosahatchie,
south. Kissimn
lakes with Lake
 The surface
elevation being
and this being
are classified a
swamp, and pin


which empties into the
nee River, connecting sev
Okechobee, is also a nav
of the State is generally
but littlenmomthan 500
attained in only a few


es
ie.


Gulf still farther
eral of the smaller
igable stream.
level, the greatest
feet above the sea,
places. The lands


high-hammock, low-hammock, savanna,
The hammocks vary from a few acres


to thousands of acres in extent, and are found in


of the peninsula.
growth of red, liv
ory, and dogwood


They are usually
e, and water oak,
and when cleared


almost inexhaustible fertility.
vial tracts on the margins of
areas, yielding largely, but r,
in ordinary seasons. Except
generally sandy and apt to b
the surface of the interior,


 The s
streams
quiring
in the
e poor.


covered with
magnolia, gu
I they afford
avannas are r
, or lying in


all parts
a dense
m, hick-
a soil of
ich allu-
letached


ditching and diking
hammocks, the soil is
Numerous lakes dot


the largest being Lake Oke-


chobee, which is said to cover an area of more than 650
square miles. Perhaps the most remarkable geographical
feature of the State is the immense tract of marsh or lake
filled with islands, in the southern part of the peninsula,
called the Everglades b the ndn "-water"). It
is about 60 miles long by 60 broad, covering most of the
territory south of Lake Okechobee, and is impassable dur-
ing the rainy reason, from July to October. The islands
with which its surface is studded vary from one fourth
of an acre to hundreds of acres in extent, and are usually
entangled in dense thickets of shrubbery or vines. The
water of the lake is from one to six feet deep, and the bot-
tom is covered with a growth of rank grass which, rising
abova the surface, gives it the deceptive appearance of a


boundless prairie.


Another noteworthy feature of Florida


I