| Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park | |
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IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
 Undergrowth in the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve | |
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| Location | Collier County, Florida,US |
| Nearest city | Naples, Florida |
| Coordinates | 26°00′00″N81°25′01″W / 26.00000°N 81.41694°W /26.00000; -81.41694 |
| Governing body | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve is aFlorida State Park just west ofCopeland, Florida. It is located in theFakahatchee Strand, a thread of forestedstrand (swamp) inBig Cypress, a section of the FloridaEverglades offSR 29.
Plants found in the park includeroyal palm,bald cypress,bromeliads,ferns, andorchids.
Among the wildlife of the park are a number of threatened and endangered species: theFlorida panther,wood stork,black bear,fox squirrel, andEverglades mink. The park also is home towhite-tailed deer,raccoons,opossums,red-shouldered hawks,wild turkeys,owls, andvultures.Alligators,ducks,sandhill cranes,roseate spoonbills,bald eagles, andosprey can be seen in the park.
Activities include plant and wildlife viewing. Amenities includeJanes Scenic Drive, an 11-mile-long unpaved, gravel road, a 2,000 footboardwalk and guided tours.
Florida state parks are open between 8 a.m. and sundown every day of the year (including holidays).
The swamp, home of the rare Ghost Orchid (Dendrophylax lindenii), was featured in the bookThe Orchid Thief bySusan Orlean. The book was the source forCharlie Kaufman's screenplay for the movieAdaptation.[1]
The swamp is featured in an episode ofThe Finder, where the series protagonistWalter Sherman looks for a missing pilot who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. The pilot's remains and plane were found in the Fakahatchee.
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