ABSTRACT
This chapter examines Florida a thousand years ago. The north has upland forest of tall straight pines and stately oaks growing so thick and tall that sunlight barely penetrates to the ground. On sandy ridges of ancient beaches are scrub pines and other species unique to Florida. Thousands of lakes collect rain water that ever so slowly flows toward the sea. Water flows south out of the great lake throughout the year in an almost continuous sheet across a vast sawgrass marsh, exiting through saltwater mangroves and carrying organic matter and nutrients to the estuaries. Energy and technological products, imported from elsewhere, permit population growth. The new culture is not tied directly to the productive capabilities of the land. As long as increasing supplies of food, materials, and energy can be imported, the population can grow, and grow it does. Exports are very important to this new economy. In south Florida, the "river of grass" no longer flows freely.
