De Soto National Memorial - Nature and Science

Though the park is not directly associated with the landing site of the expedtion, it does provide an accurate representation of the natural and historical landscape around Tampa Bay nearly five hundred years ago.

De Soto National Memorial is embraced by the waters of Tampa Bay and the mouth of the Manatee River, and includes over thirty acres of intertidal mangrove forest and coastal hammock uplands. Daily, this unique environment is flooded by tidal waters from Tampa Bay and the Manatee River. These nutrient rich tidal waters nourish specialized plant and animal communities which are dependent upon the ebb and flow of the tide. The park"s raised boardwalk offers visitors an opportunity to experience the mangrove ecosystem first hand. As you travel over this tangle of branches and prop roots, you can easily imagine the same area during the spring of 1539. Place yourself in the boots of the conquitadors, trudging through this seemingly impenetrable natural barrier.

The Memorial also provides important habitat for migratory songbirds, shore birds and species of special concern such as the gopher tortoise (Gopherus ployphemus).