The Green Swamp
Green Swamp Wildlife Management Area (WMA) consists of 50,692 acres in Pasco, Lake, Polk and Sumter counties. Green Swamp is a critical recharge area for the Floridian aquifer as well as the source of the Hillsborough, Withlacoochee, Ocklawaha and Peace rivers. This Wildlife Management Area replenishes the Floridan aquifer system, the primary source of drinking water for most Floridians. Because the Green Swamp region is elevated above outlying areas and the underground aquifer rises very close to the land surface, the region functions as the pressure head for the aquifer. Also, more than 300 wildlife species can be found, including 30 on the threatened or endangered lists.
More than 20 miles of the Florida Trail, 13.1 miles of which are part of the Florida National Scenic Trail, traverse the area. Portions of the trail are inundated in all but the driest years.
More than 20 miles of the Florida Trail, 13.1 miles of which are part of the Florida National Scenic Trail, traverse the area. Portions of the trail are inundated in all but the driest years.
The Green Swamp is rich in history, especially important history to the state of Florida. There was logging, turpentine, old vehicles, abandoned homesteads, and ranching history in this place well over a hundred years ago. There were even orange groves as well, some of the orange trees still grow out here. Even longer before that dating back thousands of years Native American Indians found this area to be a refuge and also a place with abundant resources.
During the 1800’s and into the early 1900’s some families lived in these areas. They built ranches, had orange groves and lived an old Florida lifestyle. The Green Swamp is mostly being reclaimed by nature so it looks a lot different than it did in the early days, but those remnants still do remain in the swamp. There was a railroad line that was close by as well and many folks lived along them when trains were one of the main sources for transportation.
You can see some of the old roads throughout the area which is all woods now and the roads and railroads have become trails. It makes for a very scenic exploration and there are many areas to venture into here.
Many historical sites and wilderness areas in Florida are being developed so it is important that we cherish and take care of these places while we still have them. I feel this way every time I visit these places and it’s part of the reason why I like to document them as much as I can so that in someway they can be remembered when they are gone.
During the 1800’s and into the early 1900’s some families lived in these areas. They built ranches, had orange groves and lived an old Florida lifestyle. The Green Swamp is mostly being reclaimed by nature so it looks a lot different than it did in the early days, but those remnants still do remain in the swamp. There was a railroad line that was close by as well and many folks lived along them when trains were one of the main sources for transportation.
You can see some of the old roads throughout the area which is all woods now and the roads and railroads have become trails. It makes for a very scenic exploration and there are many areas to venture into here.
Many historical sites and wilderness areas in Florida are being developed so it is important that we cherish and take care of these places while we still have them. I feel this way every time I visit these places and it’s part of the reason why I like to document them as much as I can so that in someway they can be remembered when they are gone.