Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, National wildlife refuge in Virginia, United States.
The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is a 113,000-acre protected area in Virginia composed of forested wetlands with Lake Drummond at its center. The landscape features canals, ponds, sphagnum bogs, and varied plant life that make up the entire terrain.
In the mid-1700s, George Washington surveyed drainage systems and created a network of canals that still form many of the paths visitors use today. These early modifications shaped the physical layout of the refuge as it exists now.
The swamp served as a refuge for people seeking freedom, who established hidden communities within its depths during the 18th and 19th centuries. This history remains woven into the landscape today and shapes how visitors understand the land.
The refuge provides approximately 40 miles of maintained trails for walking and exploring, with access points to Lake Drummond for paddled watercraft. Visitors should come prepared for wet conditions and wear appropriate footwear to navigate the terrain safely.
The refuge is home to 47 mammal species, 200 bird species, and 96 butterfly varieties living across its different habitats. It represents the largest preserved section of a swamp that once covered one million acres before human activity reshaped much of the region.
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