Friday 21 September 2012

In to the Archive: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

A few years back on a Trip to visit friends in Georgia and Florida I took a shot side trip to visit an area I had always wanted to explore, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

In southern Georgia and northern Florida there is a very special place, one of the oldest and best preserved freshwater systems in America. Native Americans called it Okefenoka, meaning “Land of the Trembling Earth”. Now this place, where earth, air, fire and water continuously reform the landscape, is preserved within the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, created in 1937 to protect wildlife and for you to explore.

The Okefenokee offers so much, one could spend a lifetime and still not see and do everything. The refuge is vast, with almost 402,000 acres (that’s roughly 300,000 football fields in size) of cypress forest, marsh, lakes and islands. Filled with alligators, Sandhill cranes, red-cockaded woodpeckers and over 400 other species of animals, it is a wonderful place to learn about the wildlife of Georgia and Florida. The longleaf pine, cypress, carnivorous sundews and other plants make up different habitats from dry upland forests to open wetlands. Golden sunsets and thundering storms allows one to experience this magical place at its most beautiful and most awe-inspiring moments.

There are many ways to explore the Okefenokee. Guided boat tours take visitors through cypress forests, historic canals and open prairies. Water trails and platforms allow people to canoe for the day or stay overnight deep within the 354,000 acre wilderness. Winding boardwalks and trails lead through unique habitats to observation towers and viewing platforms. Opportunities for nature photography, hunting and fishing are readily available. One can even drive a car or ride a bike to a restored homestead to discover how “swampers” once made their home here.

19 comments:

  1. Good Morning Baz. You're gonna have to tell me how you did this. Did you make a slide show using flicker?
    Womderful images.. Love em.

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    2. Good Morning Linda good to see you. No I used my pro site at Smug Mug the slide show at google was too small and I dont think you can do a slide show from Flickr. Thanks for the visit xxxxx

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  2. Gm Baz! Can't see smug mug on phone. Will have to see at home :) xoxx

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  3. What great shots!!! Thanks for sharing. :)

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  4. great post, great photos, but I don't think I'd like to be so close to those great snapping jaws, that's a bit scary and just a bit too close for me.

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    1. LOL Good Morning yes they were very close but it was early morning for the most part and they are very slow before they warm up LOL;)

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  5. Great shots, I remember when you went there.

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  6. Love yor page changes Baz.

    Fantastic show, did you get eaten by mozzies?

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