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Everglades National Park
@evergladesnps

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"It is not hard for me to live a great life in Miami, Florida. Miami is the city that gave my Abuelo and Nana a home in the United States after they fled Cuba at a young age, and it is the same city in which I have made many close friends, earned a degree, and immersed myself in South Florida’s unique subtropical ecology. The vibrancy of my city is stated through subtle beauty, like batido de mamey (Cuban milkshake) on a sunny day or a paddle in the bay. But nothing is as subtle and vast in its beauty as the Everglades, which sits right at my city’s edge. Upon entering the Everglades, agrarian lands instantly give way to the vast mosaic of pinelands, sawgrass prairies, bayheads, and hammock that once covered all South Florida. From the first time I visited the River of Grass, I knew I had to get involved with this amazing place, so I took on a role as a Naturalist giving tours with the @evergladesinstitute. After earning my degree, I became an NPS Park Ranger, interpreting our amazing resource for visitors from all around the globe. This mysterious wetland tends to draw in many people who, much like me, draw an identity from the landscape. It is an honor not only to interact with the visitors the park attracts but also to be part of a local community of naturalists, artists, and other Everglades enthusiasts. Being an NPS ranger has allowed me to share a piece of my cultural and ecological heritage with those who visit Everglades National Park, and I wouldn’t have it any other way." - Maxwell Taks, #MyParkStory What's #YourParkStory? NPS Photos Alt text: A smiling park ranger wearing a uniform and the classic ranger hat points at the camera (image 1) and stands with his arms folded (image 2) in front of the green expanse of the Everglades under a blue, partly cloudy sky. #MyParkStory #HispanicHeritageMonth #Everglades #EvergladesNationalPark