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Did you know? The Great Swamp was once the secret home of ancient humans thousands of years ago!
Located in the coastal plain region of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina in the eastern United States, the Great Everglades is famous for its vast area and unique ecosystem. The swamp once covered over a million acres, but as of 2022, it now covers approximately 750 square miles (about 480,000 acres). Lake Drummond forms the centerpiece of the Great Everglades and is one of Virginia's only two natural freshwater lakes, covering 3,100 acres. These data not only demonstrate the uniqueness of the place, but also its long history and cultural diversity.
The Everglades is not only an ecological paradise, but also a witness to countless human stories.
The Everglades has been home to multiple cultures throughout history, and archaeological evidence suggests that humans began living on the land as early as 13,000 years ago. Over time, it became a refuge for Native Americans fleeing colonial expansion, as well as slaves from the Southern states. They build their own communities here in search of opportunity and freedom. A large community of escaped slaves from the Great Swamp, known as the Maroons, developed by the 1860s, and many survived in this treacherous land.
In many documents, we can see descriptions of the life of Maroons in the Great Swamp. Writing in 1784, traveler J.D. Smyth noted that “the fugitives have lived in these places for twelve, twenty, or thirty years upwards, cultivating their fields and building their houses where they are not flooded.” The fragments make the Great Swamp full of a heavy sense of history.
"The escapees have been living in these areas for 12, 20 or 30 years or more, growing crops and building houses in areas that will not be flooded."
Over time, the ecological importance of the swamp was gradually recognized. In the early 1990s, conservation groups called for the protection of much of the Everglades because it was a unique habitat for biodiversity and a home for many species of migratory birds. In 1973, the United Camp Company donated 49,100 acres of land, laying the foundation for the protection of the Everglades' natural resources. These lands later became the Everglades National Wildlife Refuge, which was established in 1974 to restore and protect the area's natural ecology.
Today the Everglades still maintains a rich variety of plant and animal species, including black bears, badgers, and dozens of species of reptiles and amphibians. According to a survey conducted between 1973 and 1976, there are as many as 334 species of plants here, providing tourists with excellent bird watching opportunities. From April to June every year, it attracts thousands of bird watching enthusiasts.
The Everglades is not only a paradise for plants and animals, but also a living specimen of human history.
Water management plays an important role in the ecological recovery of the Everglades. The installation of water control structures not only protects water resources, but also promotes the return of plant diversity. In particular, the ecological effects of fire are simulated to give plants new life. By managing the food supply, the number of wild animals is also controlled, thus maintaining the overall ecological balance.
In the forests and wetlands of the Everglades, you can see the beautiful Lake Durham. This pure water source has become a paradise for tourists to fish, sightsee and walk. With the camp reduced in size, the main activities here are bird watching and exploring the fan-shaped natural wonders. Although this promising land was once the place where humans made choices, will this secret home of ancient humans continue to attract more explorers?
