Great Swamp of Walterboro EarthCache

This cache has been archived.

Edisto Patto: There is no time table for getting the boardwalks back open at this point. Since I am out of the area, I am going to archive. Thanks to all who visited!

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Hidden : 8/12/2011
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

There are many swamps and swampy places in South Carolina…especially in the Low Country.
Here in the Great Swamp Sanctuary in Walterboro is a swamp that is unique among swamps both in SC and the rest of the United States. Not only is this the largest city park (even larger than New York’s Central Park) but it is probably the only “braided creek” swamp that is accessible to the public.

What is a swamp??? A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp forests and "transitional" or shrub swamps. The water of a swamp may be fresh water, brackish water or seawater.
What is a “braided creek” swamp???? This is a type of swamp that is formed in a low hardwood forest. Three different creeks flow into this swamp. They criss-cross and interconnect, form pools, separate and go on in their own direction sometimes travelling below the root mass. This swamp is located in the ACE basin---one of the few remaining pristine estuarine areas left in the US. As the water from the creeks flow back together, they form the headwaters of the Ashepoo River---the A in the ACE Basin. The other two rivers making up the boundaries of the ACE Basin are the Combahee and the Edisto Rivers. These three rivers are all “black water” rivers. A blackwater river is a river with a deep, slow-moving channel that flows through forested swamps and wetlands. As vegetation decays in the water, tannins are leached out, resulting in transparent, acidic water that is darkly stained, resembling tea or coffee.
To log this cache, you will be comparing the characteristics of two areas in the swamp. They can be visited in either order. It will require an easy walk on level surfaces of about 1.75 miles round trip. Of course you are free to explore other areas . Leaving the boardwalks and paths although not prohibited could possibly expose you to ticks, poison ivy and those slithery denizens (some poisonous) that are found here in SC.

This cache is wheelchair accessible with one caveat…you will need to cross a two lane road that has a crosswalk but no traffic signal. Care should be taken especially if children are along. Please note that at this time there are no restroom facilities or drinking water available in the Park. Bug spray may be needed in hot weather. Food, gas, and restrooms are available outside the Park in the Town of Walterboro.
The Park is open every day from dawn to dusk. There is currently no admission fee.

Logging requirements: There are no signs to give you any of this information. Base your answers on your observations. Although not required, non-spoiler photos are welcome. Enjoy your visit!!!
Please submit the following in an email to me at the time of logging the cache.
At both locations: Describe the view. Is there water? If so note the color and clarity. Is it flowing? What types of trees and vegetation are present? What types of trees and their knees ( Hint Hint) are more prevalent at location 1 than at location 2? Why do you think this is so? Note the elevations at both locations and correlate the difference in elevation to the differences in what you see at the two locations. Which is a flooded area and which looks to be a hammock? If these waters became polluted what would be the consequences????

For additional information about the Great Swamp Sanctuary visit (visit link)

Additional Hints (No hints available.)



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