By far the most common type of tree island, bay heads often occur over discrete depressions of cavities in the limestone bedrock that are filled with peat soil to an elevation of one to 3 feet above the marsh. Bay heads are not uniformly distributed through the Everglades but are most common in the northeastern or Hillsborough lakes area (now the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife or WCA-1), and the west central portion, throughout the Shark River Slough in the southern Everglades.

[Tree Islands][Next]