Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge, National Wildlife Refuge in Terrebonne Parish, United States.
Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge is a 4,416-acre protected area in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, featuring freshwater marshes, cypress-tupelo swamps, and numerous waterways. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway cuts through the property, dividing it into separate sections.
The refuge was established in 1996 to protect critical wetland habitats as part of the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex. This creation reflected broader efforts to preserve the region's distinctive swamp ecosystems from ongoing threats.
The refuge sits on lands traditionally inhabited by the Chitmatcha and Houma peoples, whose descendants continue to live in the region today. This connection to the past shapes how locals view and relate to the wetlands around them.
Visiting the refuge requires a boat, as there is no road access to the interior and it can only be reached by water. It helps to go with someone familiar with the waterways, as the channels and routes can be confusing for first-time visitors.
The refuge features a flotant marsh system where sections of vegetation literally float on water instead of being rooted in solid ground. This unusual feature develops naturally in Louisiana swamps and creates an otherworldly landscape that visitors find memorable and strange in the best way.
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