Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge protects a coastal landscape in southwest Florida between Marco Island and Everglades City. Established in 1996, it spans 35,000 acres of the Ten Thousand Islands and preserves a major mangrove forest where freshwater and saltwater meet. This estuarine environment supports about 200 species of fish, 189 recorded bird species, and countless plant species adapted to coastal conditions. Its network of islands, channels, and mangroves makes it an important haven for marine and bird life. The refuge also remains a place for fishing, hunting, bird watching, kayaking, and camping while safeguarding one of Florida’s large mangrove ecosystems.