CONGAREE NATIONAL PARK

History

The park owes its name to the Amerindian tribe of the Congaree who hunted and fished in the marsh until the settlers arrived. Fernando de Soto would have described the region in his diary. After the park's farm operations (drainage of land for culture and logging), it eventually became the 57 th ^{National Park of the United States in 2003. But before that, UNESCO designated it in 1983, a biosphere reserve called the coastal plain of the South Atlantic.}

Today

Congaree National Park is the largest submerged forest in the Americas. Of over 22,000 acres (8,900 ha), old trees like the world swim in marshy areas. Here you will find the largest loblolly pine loblolly pine in the United States, as high as a 16-story building! There are also otters, tattooes, raccoons and many bird species.

Visit

The two main ways to explore the park are on foot or canoeing.

Many trails allow you to discover an incredible flora and fauna. Canoe guided tours from 3:30 a. m. to 4:00 a. m. with a ranger are possible, but require a reservation well upstream. They are free.

The park also offers the possibility to extend the experience by providing camping sites on site (reservation at www.recreation.gov).

Congaree River Blue Trail

It is a canoe trail that leaves Columbia, the capital of the state and joins the national park of Congaree, alternating between urban decor, coastal plains and dense marshes. More information about www.bluetrailsguide.org.