Okefenokee Swamp

This beautiful and mysterious swamp, located in Georgia's Colonial Coast region, is the second largest swamp in the United States. Its name, given by the Indians as "Owaqua-Phenoga," means, "trembling earth."

The Suwannee Canal Company purchased the swamp from Georgia in 1889 for $62,000. Their plan was to drain all of the water out and use it for farm land. This idea was not successful and in 1937 President Franklin Roosevelt designated the area as a wildlife refuge.

One of the primary entrances to the swamp is at Stephen C. Foster State Park. For information write: Rt. 1, Box 131 / Fargo, Georgia 31631 or call 912-637-5274.

Other entrances to the swamp are located in Folkston at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the Okefenokee Swamp Park in Waycross.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Brunswick, Georgia
Glynn County

Photo: Tony Coppage