News Earth

African dust once fertilized the Everglades

Humans aren’t only source of nutrients for Florida’s wetlands

BLOWING IN THE WIND  About 4,600 years ago, African dust wafted across the Atlantic (simulation shown) and into the Florida Everglades where it fertilized aquatic plants, researchers say. 

NOAA Visualization Laboratory

By Beth Mole

- More than 2 years ago

Numerous water lilies and other aquatic flowers once dotted the grass carpets of Florida’s Everglades thanks to nutrient-bearing dust from Africa.