This stunning U.S. wildlife refuge was just named a new UNESCO World Heritage Site

A legendary wetland in Georgia was just recognized for its "outstanding universal value" to humanity. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially voted to declare the Okefenokee Swamp a new World Heritage Site. This beloved labyrinth of blackwater rivers and Spanish moss now shares elite status with iconic global treasures like the Grand Canyon, ancient temples and gastronomic cities.

Decades after its initial proposal—and hot on the heels of a $60 million land deal that protected its delicate borders from mining—the UNESCO committee recognized the Okefenokee Swamp for its biodiversity and paleo-environmental historical significance. Stretching across southeastern Georgia and northeastern Florida, the Okefenokee is the largest lowland freshwater peatland in the subtropical world.

Beneath its waters lie 5,000-year-old peat deposits that act as a giant natural archive of past climate history (and a massive vault for carbon storage). Above the water, it’s a booming biological metropolis supporting more than 850 plant species—including endangered Longleaf Pines—alongside 238 bird species, indigo snakes, gopher tortoises, red-cockaded woodpeckers and thousands of sunbathing American alligators.

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To experience this global treasure firsthand, there are several options based on your style of adventure. Head to the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area in Folkston, Georgia for boat tours, canoe rentals and the popular Chesser Island Boardwalk, which winds through cypress stands to an observation tower. The Stephen C. Foster State Park in Fargo, Georgia is an official Dark Sky Park ideal for night-sky stargazing, kayaking and cabin stays amidst moss-draped cypress trees. Enter in Waycross, Georgia to visit Okefenokee Swamp Park for guided boat tours, boardwalk trails and educational wildlife exhibits.

Find out more about the new designation here and start planning a visit to see for yourself why the Okefenokee Swamp is so special.