Visitors love the opulence of Marco Island, and with all the water about, think this is what tropical Florida is really like. However, you couldn't get the environmental permits to build this island paradise today. You see, Marco was built by converting a mangrove swamp into the people...

Visitors love the opulence of Marco Island, and with all the water about, think this is what tropical Florida is really like. However, you couldn't get the environmental permits to build this island paradise today. You see, Marco was built by converting a mangrove swamp into the people playground it is today though filling and ditching. Take a look at the aerial map on this web site. Notice all the green islands and estuaries around Marco? It once looked like them, lush with mangroves, an ocean nursery for fish, shrimp, and shell fish.

Today there are luxury hotels, condos, canals, golf courses, and winter 'roosts' for the wealthy. Most of the housekeeping staff is bussed in daily from Golden Gate or Immokalee.

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