Headwaters

Shingle Creek is considered the northern-most headwaters of the Everglades to the south. Although it is supposed to be protected wetlands, if you look at the map you'll find it's been heavily engineered (straightened) as it passes through south Orlando on its way to Lake Tohopekaliga, just south of Kissimmee. And it doesn't take long looking at the map to note all of the gated communities, golf courses, and expensive hotels that dot the area.

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In particular, the expensive and expansive Ritz-Carlton Orlando sits right next to this portion of Shingle Creek, with a carefully constructed berm separating fake Florida on the left from what's left of real Florida on the right.

The South Florida Water Management District manages and controls access to the waterway and the lands around it, which I believe to be a Good Thing. Without some sort of minimal intervention on the part of the state it would have been completely overrun and trashed decades ago. It may yet, depending on the (poor) quality of government we keep sending to Tallahassee.

Technical

Taken with the Olympus E-P2 and ZD 9-18mm w/MMF-1 adapter.