The Okefenokee Swamp

The Okefenokee Swamp is one of the largest swamps in North America. It is located in southeastern Georgia and a small part of northern Florida. The swamp is full of dark, tea-colored water, tall cypress trees, and amazing wildlife.

The Swamp

The Okefenokee covers about 438,000 acres. The water is dark because of tannins from decaying plants. Islands of floating peat, called trembling earth, give the swamp its name. The Okefenokee is the source of the Suwannee River and the St. Marys River.

Wildlife

The swamp is home to alligators, black bears, deer, and hundreds of kinds of birds. Sandhill cranes and great blue herons wade in the shallow water. Pitcher plants and other unusual plants grow in the swamp. Most of the swamp is protected as a national wildlife refuge.

Fun Facts

• The name Okefenokee comes from a Native American word meaning trembling earth.
• About 15,000 alligators live in the Okefenokee Swamp.
• The swamp is about 25 miles wide and 40 miles long.

Did You Know?

The floating islands in the Okefenokee Swamp really do tremble and shake when you walk on them!