Okefenokee Swamp

The Okefenokee Swamp is a shallow, 438,000-acre (1,770 km²), peat-filled wetland straddling the Georgia–Florida border in the United States. A majority of the swamp is protected by the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the Okefenokee Wilderness. The Okefenokee Swamp is considered to be one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia. The Okefenokee is the largest "blackwater" swamp in North America. Although folklore and many references state that the word, okefenokee, is a Native American word, meaning,"land of trembling earth," it is actually the anglicization of the Itsate Creek Indian words, oka fenoke, which mean "water- shaking." The swamp was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1974.

The swamp was formed over the past 6,500 years by the accumulation of peat in a shallow basin on the edge of an ancient Atlantic coastal terrace, the geological relic of a Pleistocene estuary. The swamp is bordered by Trail Ridge, a strip of elevated land believed to have formed as coastal dunes or an offshore barrier island. The St. Marys River and the Suwanee River both originate in the swamp. The Suwanee River originates as stream channels in the heart of Okefenokee Swamp and drains at least 90% of the swamp's watershed southwest towards the Gulf of Mexico. The St. Marys River, which drains only 5–10% of the swamp's southeastern corner, flows south along the western side of Trail Ridge, through the ridge at St. Marys River Shoals, and north again along the eastern side of Trail Ridge before turning east to the Atlantic.

Okefenokee Swamp Park

Okefenokee Swamp Park, located near Waycross, Georgia, United States, is an entry point to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The Okefenokee Swamp, is the most extensive blackwater swamp in North America. Okefenokee Swamp Park, which began operation in October 1946, receives no federal or state funding and operates as a non-profit organization. Located six miles from Waycross, Georgia, it allows visitors to get an up-close look at some of the swamp's infamous residents such as the American Alligator, river otter, turtles, snakes, birds-of-prey, and more. A 45-minute boat excursion winds down Indian trails to a 90-foot observation tower which is also accessible by a narrow, winding boardwalk. The "Eye on Nature" show gives visitors the opportunity to hear about, and see first-hand, some of the native snake species, as well as a young alligator. The Lady Suwannee train meanders through southern pine forests and outdoor exhibits to Pioneer Island, where visitors can view and walk through a recreated early swamp homestead.

Swamp

A swamp is a wetland that is forested. Many swamps occur along large rivers where they are critically dependent upon natural water level fluctuations. Other swamps occur on the shores of large lakes. Some swamps have hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodic inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp forests and "transitional" or shrub swamps. In the boreal regions of Canada, the word swamp is colloquially used for what is more correctly termed a bog or muskeg. The water of a swamp may be fresh water, brackish water or seawater. Some of the world's largest swamps are found along major rivers such as the Amazon, the Mississippi, and the Congo.

Geomorphology and hydrology

Swamps are characterized by slow-moving to stagnant waters. They are usually associated with adjacent rivers or lakes. Swamps are features of areas with very low topographic relief.

Draining