- Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge
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Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge IUCN Category V (Protected Landscape/Seascape)Location Lee County, Florida, USA Nearest city Fort Myers, Florida Coordinates 26°33′30″N 82°04′00″W / 26.55833°N 82.0666667°WCoordinates: 26°33′30″N 82°04′00″W / 26.55833°N 82.0666667°W Area 538 acres (2.2 km2) Established September 26, 1908 Governing body U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The Matlacha Pass National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge System, located within the Matlacha Pass estuary, approximately 8 miles northwest of Cape Coral, Florida. The 538 acre (2.2 km2) refuge was established on September 26, 1908. It is administered as part of the J.N. 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
Flora
Trees that can be seen here include red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), black mangrove (Avicennia germinans), white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa), buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) and cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto). Also found in the area are tropical species such as seagrape (Coccoloba uvifera), Florida strangler fig (Ficus aurea) and gumbo limbo (Bursera simaruba).
Fauna
Some of the threatened or endangered animal species which make the refuge home are the West Indian Manatee, American crocodile, eastern indigo snake, wood stork and bald eagle.
External links
Categories:- IUCN Category V
- Protected areas of Lee County, Florida
- National Wildlife Refuges in Florida
- Protected areas established in 1908
- Florida protected area stubs
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