Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia May Be the Next UNESCO World Heritage Site
"Set at the headwaters of the Suwannee and St. Marys rivers, this vast blackwater ecosystem is one of North America’s largest and supports abundant wildlife, including endangered species such as the indigo snake and wood stork. Its name derives from a Creek phrase meaning “land of the trembling earth,” a reference to peat shifting beneath the water. Indigenous peoples first lived here; later logging and failed drainage projects shaped its history until it was designated a wildlife refuge in 1937 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Much of the refuge’s visitor infrastructure was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps—including an all-Black unit, Company 1433. The preserve spans over 350,000 acres, has been actively expanded (recently by about 22,000 acres) to block mining encroachment, began a UNESCO World Heritage nomination in 2023, and charges a nominal vehicle entry fee while accepting national park passes." - Caroline Eubanks Caroline Eubanks Caroline Eubanks is a Lowell Thomas Award-winning travel writer and the author of “This Is My South: The Essential Travel Guide to the Southern States.” Her work has been published by Condé Nast Traveler, Garden & Gun, Architectural Digest, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
