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Dawn at the Dyceranda Preserve;
Dating back 120,000 years ago, the Atlantic Coastal Ridge was formed as an ancient beach sand dune when the climate was warmer than today's and ocean levels were much higher. Then 70,000 years ago, a great period of glaciation occurred. Ice caps covered half of North America and a vast desert-like ecosystem formed across the entire southern half of the United States. 17,000 years ago, the climate began to warm and ocean levels rose for the next 10,000 years. Much of the desert-like ecosystem in Florida disappeared, except on ancient beach dunes like the Atlantic Coastal Ridge and the even older Lake Wales Ridge. Here, the last remnants of this extremely diverse "scrub" ecosystem continued to thrive due to the dry sandy soil, and is today Florida's oldest, most biologically diverse, surviving terrestrial habitat. It is home to over 42 plant and animal species that can survive here and nowhere else.

The Dyceranda Scrub Preserve, named after a plant species that exists only within a few square mile of this ridge, has been purchase and protected by the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program.

Standing near the crest of the ridge in the Dyceranda Scrub Preserve, looking over this ancient ecosystem in the early morning fog composing this shot, It's easy to imagine that I am gazing many thousands of years back into Florida's primeval past.
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