Did you know that Georgia has seven natural wonders? One of these is the Okefenokee Swamp at the southern end of the state. The name derives from the Native American term “Land of the Trembling Earth” which is exactly the sensation one would feel when stepping on the soggy masses of soil deposits.

Consisting of 438,000 acres of wetlands (or roughly 650 square miles), the Okefenokee swamp remains the largest blackwater swamp in North America. The black water comes from tannins on the bark and leaves that drop into the water. However, if you scoop up water in your hand, the water is more of a dirty orange color.

The Okefenokee Swamp lies in a remote area of Georgia with few roads or cities nearby. The Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge has a main entrance about 11 miles from Folkston (pop. 4,500) and a smaller entrance at the Stephen C. Foster State Park about 17 miles from Fargo (pop. 250). Both areas offer boat rentals, guided boat tours, walking trails, and camping.