Behaviour

Why Is It Called Shark Valley

What? There are no sharks in a shark valley? Why?

If you ever visit Shark valley then you will surely be disappointed because there are no sharks in the shark valley. So why it is called shark valley? Although there is no mountain in this valley, the elevation of the area is much lower than the surrounding area. It is a geological depression in the heart of “true Everglades” – a grass river that extended from Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico. So as you won’t see any sharks in this valley then you might be curious to know the reason behind the name of the valley. Right? Drive deep into the article to learn about what is shark valley.

What Is Shark Valley?

A shark valley is a kind of freshwater ecosystem with diversified biodiversity. It is the first entry point from Miami to Everglades National Park – Florida. It is the best place in Everglades National Park to visit. Moreover, you can also spot many of the wildlife species in this area but not sharks.

Why Is It Called Shark Valley?

It is called shark valley because two estuaries – the Shark River and little Shark River are the primary source of water to the Everglades River and provide feeding and nursing habitat to a variety of wildlife species. Further, a few shark species are also spotted in the Shark River such as Bull sharks, Blacktip sharks, and Lemon sharks.

Where Is The Location Of Shark Valley?

The Shark Valley is located 25 miles away from the west of the Florida Turnpike on Highway 41 Tamiami Trail.  However, it is also connected to Miami (35 miles on the west), Naples (70 miles on the East), and Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center to shark Valley.

Can A Visitor Take A Tour Of Shark Valley?

Yes! Definitely.

A visitor can take a complete tour of shark valley either by cycling, walking, biking, or the most popular way – a tram tour. Depending upon the time of the day and season, it takes about 2 hours to visit the 15 miles loop of the shark valley by tram from the visitor center.

Which Animals Lives In The Shark Valley?

Some of the animals might get spotted while exploring the valley. They are:

  • Birds
  • Alligators
  • White-tailed deer
  • Ibis
  • Raccoons
  • Florida Panther
  • West Indian Manatee
  • American Crocodile
  • Snail Kite
  • Wood Stork

Final Words

In Everglades National Park, shark valley is a fantastic and mesmerizing place to visit in South Florida. The valley is named so because of the 2 estuaries Shark River and Little Shark River are the source of slow-flowing water and also provide a feeding habitat to many wildlife species such as birds, alligators, ibis, crocodiles, raccoons, panthers, and many others. The valley provides various opportunities to take a tour either by biking, cycling, walking, or tram. So it’s all up to you to have enough energy to enjoy nature by walking or cycling or taking a tram tour.

About the author

Zubaria

I am a Scholar and a dedicated content writer. I am on a mission to stamp out the importance of one of the ocean's most fascinating and remarkable creatures, the sharks, and to let people know about their role in keeping the ecosystem in equilibrium.