| Shark Valley | |
|---|---|
 Shark Valley trail and observation tower | |
 Interactive map of Shark Valley | |
| Location | Everglades National Park (ENP) |
| Nearest city | Miami |
| Coordinates | 25°42′28″N80°45′47″W / 25.70778°N 80.76306°W /25.70778; -80.76306 |
| Created | 1947 (1947) (ENP) |
| Operated by | National Park Service |
| Status | Open all year |
Shark Valley is ageological depression at the head of the Shark RiverSlough in far westernMiami-Dade County,Florida,United States. It is currently part ofEverglades National Park. Shark Valley empties intoShark River in theTen Thousand Islands ofMonroe County.[1] Shark Valley characteristically includessawgrass prairie that floods during the rainy season, hence the name "river of grass"—Pa-Hay-Okee, from theMikasuki language—for such marshes in theEverglades.[2] Shark Valley features a Visitor Center with educational displays, a park video, an underwater camera and informational brochures. The entrance to Shark Valley is located alongTamiami Trail (US 41) near the Miami-Dade–Collier County line.[3]
Shark Valley contains large expanses ofooliticlimestone either exposed or overlain bymarl. The area, having a briefhydroperiod, is seasonally submerged, withCladium jamaicense (sawgrass) being the dominant vegetation. Unlike the deeper Shark River Slough, Shark Valley does not contain standing water year-round.[4] Wildlife seen in Shark Valley includesalligators,ibis,wood storks,roseate spoonbills,raccoons,white-tailed deer, and various amphibians.
A well-known episode in theSecond Seminole War occurred in or near Shark Valley. In the late 1830s, groups ofSpanish Indians successively raided a guarded trading post on theCaloosahatchee River in 1839 and committed amassacre onIndian Key in 1840.[5] The Spanish Indians, who resided inSouthwest Florida, were a mix ofCreek refugees and people of mixed Native American and Spanish, possibly evenCalusa, descent.[6] On December 4, 1840, responding to attacks by the Spanish Indians, 90 men under the command ofLieutenant ColonelW. S. Harney targeted one of their key leaders, Chakaika (sometimes spelled Chekika).[7] The men departed fromFort Dallas at the mouth of theMiami River, nowDowntown Miami, and reached Chakaika's hideout in the Everglades. They found Chakaika with some of his rebels, shot him, and had him hanged on "Chakaika's island," a tree island in the Everglades.[7] This tree island is believed to be present-day Chekika Island, located at the beginning of Shark Valley.[1]
The observation tower at Shark Valley was designed by the prominent South Florida architectEdward M. Ghezzi. It was built in 1964 as part of the Mission 66 projects throughout the national parks. The tower design is similar to that of the tower onKuwohi inSmoky Mountain National Park[8]
.
