Great Dismal Swamp

The Great Dismal Swamp is a state-protected wetland since 1973 in the coastal plain of the states of Virginia and North Carolina in the United States. The area consists of approximately 500 km ² wooded wetlands and a 12.5 -acre natural lake, Lake Drummond, in its center. The eastern edge of the swamp extends along the Dismal Swamp Canal, completed in 1805.

History

Scientific studies show that the Great Dismal Swamp was the last major shift in the American continental shelf. The origin of Lake Drummond is controversial, for the oval shape may be the impact of a meteorite responsible. From archaeological finds show that around 13,000 years ago did the first people in the swamp. By 1650 there were only a few Indians, while the immigrant Europeans initially showed no interest in the settlement. The Governor of the Province of Carolina, William Drummond, discovered in 1665 during a hunting trip around the lake that bears his name. William Byrd II led a 1728 survey squad through the swamp to define the boundary line between Virginia and North Carolina. George Washington visited in 1763 for the first time the area and founded the Dismal Swamp Land Company with the aim to dry up and cut down parts of the swamp. An 8 km long drainage ditch on the west side is still called Washington Ditch. The swamp was 1780-1862 temporary residence for runaway slaves, the Great Dismal Swamp Maroons, and western terminal of the Underground Railroad.

1805 Dismal Swamp Canal was opened. He leads on the eastern edge of the swamp along and is the oldest functioning canal in the United States. Today it connects the Chesapeake Bay with the Albemarle Sound and over 2,000 boats and yachts pass through the canal each year.

Cutting down the swamp was an economically rewarding activity until 1976. The entire area is plagued by periodic forest fires and was fully at least once cut down. Agricultural, economic and colonization projects destroyed large parts of the swamp, which now has less than half its original size. Before ordering a nature park around 260 km of roads were built in order to transport the wood. These roads affected the natural hydrology of the swamp, hampered the flow at the surface and in some places led to permanent flooding. After the Abholzaktionen you replaced the natural forest of cypresses and pines by predominantly red maple.

1973, the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge was for a land donation of 49,100 acres ( 198.7 km ²) founded and the Natural Park to preserve one of the last great original scenery in the United States. The goal of the restoration measures is to restore and preserve the natural biodiversity, as it existed prior to the intervention of man.

Flora and Fauna

The trees of the swamp consists mainly of pine (Pinus pinaster ), white false cypress (Chamaecyparis thyoides ), red maple ( Acer rubrum), swamp cypress (Taxodium distichum) and poplars (Populus heterophylla ) together. To the non- forested sites and the rest of wetland peat mosses grow ( Sphagnum) and evergreen shrubs. The red maple is most frequently encountered and spreads out more and more, while the hitherto dominant trees, such as cypress and pine trees, only 20 percent of the tree population make up. Three plant species in the swamp deserve special mention, namely the dwarf forest lily ( Trillium nivale ), the Silky Scheinkamelie ( Stewartia malacodendron ) and the male fern ( Dryopteris celsa ). The dwarf forest lily is found in the north-western swamp area and blooms annually for two weeks in March. The Silky Scheinkamelie is also located in the northwestern part of the swamp. The male fern is one of the rarest North American ferns and Dismal Swamp more common than elsewhere.

Since its establishment as a nature reserve over 200 different bird species have been recorded in the marshes, of which 93 species nest there. The highest number of bird species observed in the months of April to June at the arrival of migratory birds. In winter, blackbirds and robins in large flocks in the swamp. Two warbler species, the Swainson's Warbler ( Lymnothlypis swainsonii ) and the Green Warbler ( Dendroica virens waynei ), here are more common than in other coastal areas of the United States. Among the most interesting bird species also include the Wood Duck ( Aix Ponsa ), the Barred Owl (Strix varia), the Pileated Woodpecker ( Dryocubus pileatus ) and the lemon Warbler ( Protonotaria citrea ).

The mammals are represented by white-tailed deer, otter, bat, raccoon, mink, gray fox and gray squirrel. Rare black bears and bobcats were observed.

There are 21 species of snakes in the swamp area, including three toxic species, namely the North American Copperhead ( Agkistrodon contotrix ), the lesser-known Wassermokassinotter ( Agkistrodon piscivorus ) and the Forest Rattlesnake ( Crotalus horridus ). In addition, here a total of 56 species of lizards, salamanders, frogs, toads and turtles were counted, including the Yellow-bellied jewelry slider (Trachemys scripta scripta ) and the spotted turtle ( Clemmis guttata).