Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Wildlife refuge in Baker County, United States.
The Okefenokee is a vast swamp covering roughly 402,000 acres and straddling Georgia and Florida with sprawling cypress forests, open water prairies, and scattered lakes. The ground consists of thick peat deposits soaked through with water, creating distinct habitats for wildlife throughout the expanse.
People settled in this region around 2500 BC, with several Indigenous cultures inhabiting the land before European exploration. The wetland retained its importance through the centuries and eventually became a protected refuge for nature.
The name comes from the Hitchiti language, an Indigenous tongue, and refers to water moving beneath the surface. The area has long held deep meaning for the peoples who lived here and continues to shape how visitors understand the land today.
Visitors can enter the refuge through three main access points where paddling opportunities span about 121 miles of water routes. Fishing and wildlife watching are possible year-round, though cooler months offer the most comfortable conditions.
The ground beneath your feet trembles and bounces slightly when you walk on it due to extremely thick peat deposits - a sensation found nowhere else. This floating terrain is one of the most striking physical features you'll encounter in the wetland.
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