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Congaree National Park protects the largest area of old growth bottomland hardwood forest that remains in the United States. |
Didn't become a national park until 2003 |
Reflection in Cedar Creek |
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Cedar Creek, along the Weston Lake Loop Trail |
Cedar Creek |
Cedar Creek |
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Spider |
No idea what kind |
Hiking the 7.5 mile Oak Ridge Loop Trail |
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The Boardwalk Loop is the shortest hike and the hike closest to the visitors center. The majority of the trail is on raised boardwalks, because a lot of the time the park is flooded. I'm going to have to come back at some point when it's flooded, because I'm sure it's a completely different experience. |
Bald cyprus |
The "knees" of a bald cyprus, part of the root structure. Scientists still don't know exactly what the function is. The two popular theories are that they either help get oxygen to the roots, or they help to anchor the tree. |
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Turtle swimming in Weston Lake |
Turtle |
Bald cyprus knee |
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Looking up while hiking the Oak Ridge Loop Trail |
Cedar Creek |
Wise Lake |
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Raised boardwalk |
Turtle in Weston Lake |
Oak Ridge Loop Trail |
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The fan shape of a bald cyprus trunk |
Bald cyprus knees |
Damage from Hurricane Hugo in 1989 |
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Oak Ridge Loop Trail |
Bald cyprus |
Oak Ridge Loop Trail |
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Bald cyprus knees |
Hurrican Hugo damage |
Oak Ridge Loop Trail |
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Weston Lake Loop Trail |
Dwarf palmettos |
Boardwalk Loop Trail |
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Spanish moss |
Squirrel! |
Weston Lake Loop Trail |
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I still got bit a few times... |
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