St. Marys River, Natural border river in southeastern Georgia and Florida, United States.
St. Marys River is a waterway that forms the boundary between Georgia and Florida. It flows for about 130 miles from the Okefenokee Swamp to Cumberland Sound, passing through thick forests and swampland where the water appears dark due to tannins from vegetation.
French explorer Jean Ribault discovered this river in 1562 and named it the Seine based on his own geography. The Timucua people who lived here long before had their own name for the waterway, reflecting thousands of years of inhabitation.
The river basin maintains diverse wildlife populations, including 52 fish species, deer, otters, beavers, raccoons, alligators, and red-cockaded woodpeckers.
You can access this river at several parks where boating and fishing are popular activities. Many spots offer camping and rest areas, making it easy to spend time exploring the water and nearby woods.
The river changes direction several times during its journey, flowing south, east, and north before reaching the Atlantic between two towns. This winding path means the trip downriver is longer than you might expect from a straight line on the map.
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