Congaree Swamp National Park

Photos submitted by Michael Davie

Congaree Swamp National Park, in central South Carolina (Richland County): approximately 11,000 acres of old-growth bottomland hardwoods and cypress-tupelo systems on the floodplain of the Congaree River, within the National Park.  The park rests on a floodplain of the Congaree River and is not a true swamp. This remnant preserves, in a wilderness state, the largest intact tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the United States.  http://www.nps.gov/cosw/ 

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 Robert Van Pelt, author of "Forest Giants of the Pacific Coast" beside a forest giant of Congaree Swamp, a cherrybark oak (Quercus falcata var. pagodifolia)
National champion loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) at Congaree Swamp National Monument, with (from left to right) Will Blozan, Jeff Ellsworth, John Parmenter, Michael Davie
John Parmenter (white helmet) and Will Blozan (orange helmet)  in the national champion loblolly pine in Congaree Swamp.  Photo by Michael Davie
John Parmenter (white helmet) and Will Blozan (orange helmet)   in the national champion loblolly pine in Congaree Swamp. Photo by Michael Davie
John Parmenter (white helmet) and Will Blozan (orange helmet)   in the national champion loblolly pine in Congaree Swamp. Photo by Michael Davie