These two Landsat images of southern Florida in the United States reveal some of the changes that have occurred in this region over the past 30 years. One of the most obvious is the growth of the Fort Lauderdale-Miami urban area. Urban expansion has led to the conversion of what were once farmlands to cityscapes. The city of Miami has also expanded greatly to the southwest. The advance of urban areas westward across the peninsula threatens the continued existence of the vast wetlands area known as the Everglades. The Everglades ecosystem naturally filters groundwater and helps to recharge the Biscayne Aquifer. It is also home to a remarkable collection of plants and animals for which southern Florida is famous. As urban areas encroach upon the Everglades, water resources and wildlife habitat are placed at serious risk. Protecting the Everglades to maintain its essential water filtering capacity and remarkable biodiversity is part of the mission of the Federal "Smart Growth" Task Force, which is working to better manage urban sprawl and its negative consequences. View detailed information
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