In addition, the refuge is a wetland of international importance ramsar convention 1971 because it is one of the worlds largest intact freshwater ecosystems. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Approximately 371,000 acres of the okefenokee swamp wetlands are incorporated into the refuge, and 353,981 acres within the swamp were designated as wilderness by the okefenokee wilderness act of 1974. The essays are beautifully written and contribute much to the books power. Paddling okefenokee national wildlife refuge regional paddling series by david oneill 19981201 paperback january 1, 1800 by david oneill.
The best okefenokee national wildlife refuge hotels where. National wildlife refuges nwrs have also been established by congress. Fish and wildlife service, manages a national network of lands and waters set aside to conserve americas fish, wildlife, and plants. In 1903 theodore roosevelt signed a proclamation that created the first of what, a century later, would become a system of 538 wildlife refuges spread across all fifty of the united states. Okefenokee national wildlife refuge, georgia guide fodors.
Although most refuge lands and outdoor spaces have remained open for the public to. The okefenokee national wildlife refuge was established in 1937 as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. Okefenokee national wildlife refuge, folkston, georgia. Recently my friend and i visited to paddle around the swamp and drive around swamp island and walk the chesser island boardwalk to try and see some wildlife. The park attracts large amounts of people from all over the country. Photograph your local culture, help wikipedia and win. Okefenokee national wildlife refuge okefenokee nwr, located about 11 miles southwest of folkston, was established in 1937 to preserve the 438,000 acre okefenokee swamp.
Paddling okefenokee national wildlife refuge regional paddling series oneill, david on. There are 3 main entrances and two secondary entrances, so planning a trip that includes visiting several of these locations will be the best way to experience the land of the trembling earth. Okefenokee swamp has major protion classed as federal refuge, but remainder includes private, state, privatecompany areas. Okefenokee national wildlife refuge fire landsat 8s operational land imager captures the scene as many acres burn in the okefenokee national wildlife refuge. In 1974, to further ensure the protection of this unique ecosystem, the interior 353,981 acres of the refuge were designated a national wilderness area. The refuge was established in 1937 to protect a majority of the 438,000 acre 1,772 km 2 okefenokee swamp.
Covering 630 square miles in southeast georgia, the okefenokee national wildlife refuge encompasses nearly all of the worldrenowned okefenokee swamp. Okefenokee national wildlife refuge was established in 1936 in order to preserve the 438,000 acre okefenokee swamp. Contact information shopping cart home books the national wildlife refuges. Best trails in okefenokee national wildlife refuge georgia. Okefenokee national wildlife refuge events facebook. We have 5 cabins, 3 with bathrooms and kitchenettes, all have electricity, ac, screened porches, furnished. We offer our over 62, militaryboy scout1st responder and school group discount, escapees and stay 6 nights get the 7th free. It is misleading, however, to conclude that this was the genesis of wildlife sanctuaries in the united states. Topographic mapcovering 630 square miles in southeast georgia, the okefenokee national wildlife refuge encompasses nearly all of the worldrenowned okefenokee swamp. Fish and wildlife service, inventory and monitoring network savannah coastal refuge complex, 694 beech hill lane hardeeville, sc 29927 atkins north america, inc. Clip 6m 18s the okefenokee is a vast peat bog of ancient geologic origin. Okefenokee visitor center okefenokee nwr oh, ranger. The refuge is administered from offices in folkston, georgia. We rented a kayak first thing in the morning and it was incredible.
The okefenokee is crisscrossed by over 120 miles of paddle and motor boat water trails. Celebrating the 100th birthday of the national wildlife refuges, this book is a revealing and oft inspiring account of the history of the refuges and the closely. The highlight of my trip was seeing my first ever wildcat. S refuge system from its beginnings with teddy roosevelts proclamation creating the first national wildlife refuge up to todays wildlife preservation initiatives and challenges. Favorite book okefenokee national wildlife refuge national. For access information please check on the refuge s web page or contact the refuge directly. Located in the okefenokee national wildlife refuge, the okefenokee swamp park is a convenient point of entry and a magnificent showwindow for the land of the trembling earth. More than 400,000 visitors visit the park each year. Smithsonian book of national wildlife refuges by eric jay. The 1960s was a time when the south had gotten a very unsavory reputation because of the activities of its racists. Exhilarating okefenokee national wildlife refuge charlton county, georgia the okefenokee national wildlife refuge covers more than 400,000 acres, but some of it is surprisingly unswamplike. The refuge encompasses approximately 396,000 acres with 353,000 acres designated as a national wilderness area.
With many visitors, the park is very well travelled and often mistaken for a national park. The 5,000 square foot building is cedarsided with open, vaulted ceilings and flagstone floors. Jan 16, 2018 eku students enrolled in rec 590790 visited coastal georgia and jacksonville, florida to learn about the importance of wildlife to ecosystems and local tourism. Many refuges have specific visitor services and other recreation opportunity maps. There are activities yearround at canaan valley national wildlife refuge. Smithsonian book of national wildlife refuges by eric jay dolin. Despite being a national wildlife refuge and the locale of two popular movies of the mid20 th century, the okefenokee swamp was only vaguely known in the majority of people, living outside the lower southeast in the 1980s. Paddling okefenokee national wildlife refuge regional paddling series.
Learn what led to the creation of the national wildlife federation and how our. Aug 02, 2010 adventure best american adventures canoe the okefenokee, georgia see trip details for canoeing okefenokee swamp in georgia, one of 100 best american adventure trips from national geographic. The vision for okefenokee national wildlife refuge is to protect and enhance wildlife and its habitat, ensure. As you can see we have a discount for just about everyone. Once part of the ocean floor, it now ranges in elevation from 103 to. The national wildlife refuge system in the united states has a long and distinguished history.
The swamps name probably is derived from the seminole indian word for trembling earth, socalled because of the floating islands of the swamp. Mar, 2018 okefenokee national wildlife refuge is located in south georgia, near the border with florida. The okefenokee national wildlife refuge is an incredible place to visit with the family in georgia. Larger than all of georgias barrier islands combined, the okefenokee national wildlife refuge covers 700 square miles of southeastern georgia and northeastern florida. Hunting, mcnary national wildlife refuge, washington by u. Completed ccps are available to the public and can be found on the fws website. Okefenokee national wildlife refuge naturescene pbs. Foster state park west managed cooperatively between the u. And by executive order of march 14, 1903, president theodore roosevelt established pelican island national wildlife refuge, along floridas central atlantic coast, as the first unit of the present national wildlife refuge system. Paddling okefenokee national wildlife refuge regional. Okefenokee national wildlife refuge is a national wildlife refuge, featuring a large area of swampland and coastal forests. Nov 24, 2016 okefenokee national wildlife refuge photo essay. We are doing some traveling and decided to stop here to stretch.
Nov 29, 2016 deals in books okefenokee national wildlife refuge national geographic trails illustrated map visetan. Okefenokee national wildlife refuge audubon important bird. The vision for okefenokee national wildlife refuge is to protect and enhance wildlife and its habitat, ensure integrity of the ecological system, and embrace the. Okefenokee national wildlife refuge is an awesomely vast expanse of wilderness southern swamp covering approximately 700 square miles and located mostly in the southeast corner of georgia, u. In 1986, the okefenokee national wildlife refuge was designated by. Paddling okefenokee national wildlife refuge regional paddling series paperback december 1, 1998 by david oneill author visit amazons david oneill page.
Okefenokee national wildlife refuge a young naturalist. The okefenokee national wildlife refuge has 353,981 acres of national wilderness area within the refuge boundaries. Other articles where okefenokee national wildlife refuge is discussed. The parks lilydecked water trails, with their miraculously reflective waters mirroring the overhanging beauty, lead to all points in this vast wilderness of.
Fish and wildlife service and the georgia department of natural resources, this entrance is located 17 miles east of fargo, off hwy 177. The okefenokee is like no other place on earth, where natural beauty and wilderness prevail. The okefenokee national wildlife refuge is a 402,000. It mingles history, anecdotes and perspective to give us the best assessment. Home page for the okefenokee oke swamp cabins, rvpark and.
Expertly researched and created in partnership with local land management agencies, national geographics trails illustrated map of okefenokee national wildlife refuge provides an unparalleled. With the mysterious swamp, historic sites and fun, family adventures to be had, there are plenty of things to do with the kids here. Alaska maritime national wildlife refuge wikipedia. Presently, the refuge encompasses approximately 402,000 acres. While camping at the big water campsite, a bobcat stealthily prowled the opposite shoreline at dusk while i was enjoying the dusk light. Find hotels in okefenokee national wildlife refuge, usa. Gorgeous coffeetable book, celebrating the 100th anniversary or the refuge system, with dramatic text, and more than 200 color images. Okefenokee national wildlife refuge photo essay on a canoe. Quoted from jack prebles book land of canaan, 1960, mcclain printing.
Okefenokee national wildlife refuge wildlife preserve. Boat trails, fishing, motorboat and canoe rentals, guided boat tours, and interpretive programs are all available to visitors. The refuge has so much to see, including several historic sites like the chesser island homestead. Okefenokee national wildlife refuge ware, charlton, and clinch counties, georgia baker county, florida theresa a. History of the national wildlife refuge system wikipedia. The secret history of the okefenokee swamp the americas.
The photos in this book were taken to try to save the arctic national wildlife refuge and this is an environmental advocacy exhibitbook. This handsome 9 x 10 book features hundreds of color photographs and a text by nature writer eric jay dolin which surveys the history of the u. Okefenokee national wildlife refuge folkston all you need. Muscatatuck national wildlife refuge was established in 1966 as a. Okefenokee national wildlife refuge in folkston georgia. All lands and boundaries depicted in the above web map are not survey quality and should not be used for survey or legal purposes. Hunting, mcnary national wildlife refuge, washington 1995. Okefenokee national wildlife refuge charlton county, georgia my first time seeing an alligator outside of a zoo. Okefenokee national wildlife refuge national geographic. Expertly researched and created in partnership with local land management agencies, national geographics trails illustrated map of okefenokee national wildlife refuge provides an. Okefenokee national wildlife refuge is managed as part of the okefenokee complex.
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