The calm looking waters of the Okefenokee Swamp. Underneath, alligators. In the air, yellow biting flies. Pretty but kind of dangerous.

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, September 10, 2021, 2:58 p.m.: Gator: A single alligator pokes its head above water in a small pond. Okefenokee is a wildlife refuge, not a zoo, and there are no fences or cages to contain any of the wildlife. It is possible to see alligators and other wildlife anywhere any time on the refuge.

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Okefenokee Swamp Park

Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, September 10, 2021, 12:43 p.m. Boardwalk start: This is the start of the Chesser Island boardwalk. The walk is three quarters of a mile long over the swamp and leads to a 30-foot observation tower.

The Okefenokee Swamp is a shallow, 438,000-acre (177,000 ha), peat-filled wetland straddling the Georgia–Florida line in the United States. A majority of the swamp is protected by the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the Okefenokee Wilderness. The Okefenokee Swamp is considered to be one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia. The Okefenokee is the largest "blackwater" swamp in North America.

The swamp was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1974.

Canal marker

Okefenokee Swamp Park

Stephen C. Foster 4_6_12

Okefenokee Swamp; Georgia; Winter 2008

View down from canopy height

We hunted for the declining Red-cockaded Woodpecker in the Longleaf Pines but only found evidence of the Piliated. There were trees marked as having had Red-cockaded activity and we found a few fresh nesting holes but no actual birds.

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Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge

Russell

View of the Okefenokee from the observation tower at the north access