Georgia
Okefenokee Swamp
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The Okefenokee Swamp is one of the oldest and most well-preserved freshwater ecosystems in America, formed over 6,500 years ago. The name 'Okefenokee' comes from a Native American word meaning 'trembling earth' because the floating islands of vegetation shake when you walk on them! The swamp is home to over 15,000 alligators, 234 bird species, 64 reptile species, and 37 mammal species. Visitors can take boat tours through dark, mirror-like waters surrounded by towering cypress trees draped in Spanish moss. The swamp acts like a giant natural filter, cleaning water as it slowly flows toward the Atlantic Ocean. Many of the plants and animals here exist nowhere else on Earth, making it a truly special place that scientists study to learn about ancient ecosystems.
