Congaree National Park, National Park in Richland County, South Carolina
Congaree National Park protects over 26,000 acres of bottomland forest in central South Carolina, where the Congaree River floods regularly and enriches the soil with nutrients. The terrain stays flat and crossed by creeks, while hardwoods and swamps form a dense, humid ecosystem.
Logging companies arrived in the late 1800s, but difficult swamp conditions slowed cutting and saved large sections of the forest. Environmental advocates pushed for protection in the 1960s, leading to designation as a National Monument in 1976 and later elevation to National Park status in 2003.
The name comes from the Congaree people who lived in this region before European settlement. Visitors walk today beneath dense canopies where light filters softly through the leaves, and boardwalks cross swampy sections that prevented logging for centuries.
More than 25 miles (40 km) of trails cross the protected area, including a boardwalk that remains accessible during floods. Those planning to paddle on Cedar Creek or camp in simple sites should book ahead during busier months.
Several of the tallest hardwoods on the East Coast grow here, including baldcypress and oaks older than 500 years. At night in late spring, synchronous fireflies flash together in a rare natural display seen in only a few places across North America.
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