Congaree National Park

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Congaree National Park
IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)

Location:	South Carolina, USA
Nearest city:	Columbia, SC
Coordinates:	33°47′0″N, 80°47′0″W
Area:	21,867.02 acres (21,116.91 federal) 88.49 km²
Established:	October 18, 1976
Visitation:	126,247 (in 2004)
Governing body:	National Park Service

Congaree National Park preserves the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States. Located in South Carolina, the 22,000 acre (89 km²) site is one of America's smallest national parks. The lush trees growing in this floodplain forest are some of the tallest in the Eastern U.S., forming one of the highest natural canopies remaining in the world. Bald cypress is a common tree in the park. The Congaree River flows through the park. 15,000 acres (60.70 km²) — or about 70 percent of the park — is designated wilderness area.

Cedar Creek

While largely recognized as a sanctuary for animal and plant life, Congaree National Park features primitive campsites and offers hiking, canoeing, kayaking and bird watching. Primitive and backcountry camping is available. Hiking trails are found in the park as well as a 20-mile marked canoe trail on Cedar Creek.

In 1969, the Sierra Club launched a "grass roots" campaign to save this area of old growth forest from private landowners interested in the relatively high timber prices. The result of this campaign was the establishment by Congress of "Congaree Swamp National Monument" on October 18, 1976. It became an International Biosphere Reserve on June 30, 1983. Over two-thirds of the park was designated a wilderness area on October 24, 1988 and it became a Globally Important Bird Area on July 26, 2001. Following an increase in its authorized boundary, it became a national park on November 10, 2003.