How big can alligators get? The American alligator can grow from between 9 and 15 feet on average, larger than the Chinese alligator.Īre there alligators in the ocean? Alligators are primarily freshwater animals and do not live in the ocean, however, occasionally one will swim through brackish water into saltwater, though they won’t stay there for very long. Where are the biggest alligators in the world? The US has some of the biggest alligators in the world with the current record at nearly 16’ long caught in Alabama. How fast are alligators on land? While alligators move faster in water, they can reach speeds of up to 30-35 mph on land. How Big Are Alligators in the Everglades? Where to See Alligators in the Everglades Where Do Alligators Live in the Everglades? For them alligators were nothing more than big lizards, and so they called them el lagarto (Spanish for lizard) from which the term alligator eventually evolved. For the safest up-close sightings, seeing alligators in the Everglades is best done on a guided airboat or swamp buggy tour, or at designated locations maintained by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and the National Park Service.Įarly Spanish settlers making their homes in Florida were mystified by these huge reptiles.
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In fact, seeing an alligator in the wild is usually on every southwest Florida traveler's bucket list.Īlligators are a keystone species and play a vital part in the health of the Everglades ecosystem. The alligator is so iconic in the Sunshine State, it’s come to symbolize not just the history and tradition of the Florida Everglades, but the entire state as well. Think about that for a minute - the state of Florida apparently has enough reptiles to have a State Reptile! The American alligator is the largest reptile in North America. Planning a vacation to south Florida and want to see alligators in the Everglades? Who doesn’t? Everyone wants to get a glimpse of its least attractive and most terrifying resident! They’re also may be the most misunderstood of any animal found in the Florida Everglades.