Our destination for the day was this wildlife refuge.  It has an area of about 684 square miles.  It has an interesting history that when focused on the east entrance to the refuge has a man-made canal. Fire also plays a large role in the natural life of the refuge.

A boardwalk leading to a observation tower.

Fires swept wide parts of the refuge in 2007 and again in 2011-2012.  This second fire destroyed the boardwalk that survived the 2007 fire. 

Remnants of the original boardwalk.

Part of the refuge that escaped the 2011 fire.

Fire suppression sprinkler heads and main.

The Suwanee Canal was dug across the swamp in the late 19th century in a failed attempt to drain the Okefenokee. After the Suwanee Canal Company's bankruptcy extensive cypress logging operations from 1909 to 1927 removed an irreplaceable stand of cypress trees for railroad ties due to the wood's durability.

The ecology of the canal.

This canal is now used as an entry point into the swamp.  

The Suwanee canal.

Another tour boat.

Overnight campers returning to launch site.

The "Water Prairie".

I expected something quite different that what was before me.  But Okefenokee is so large that the ecology varies quite drastically.  So instead of towering trees and little light, this shallow water over peat up to 15 feet thick is here.

Up close and personal.

There has been no hunting in the refuge since the mid 1930's when it was declared a wildlife refuge.  The animals showed little fear and did not shy away.  We were next to the above alligator for several minutes.

Our guide searching for a worm in a waterlily leaf.

Charlie the guide explained that the waterlily root provides starch, a flower that he called "never wet" provides carbohydrates and this little worm is the best fish bait available or it can be eaten.  He says he does eat them, Yum Yum!

Going home with channel markers in the background.

Going on a kayak trip.

Sue feeling good!

There is an alligator across the canal.