The Dismal Swamp (national wildlife refuge, on the border between VA and NC)

The Dismal Swamp is actually on a hillside above the surrounding land, and originally spread over more than two thousand square miles. It got its name from an early party of surveyers who were horrified by the number of blood-sucking bugs they encountered on their way across. Today most of it has been drained, but there is still a huge tract of it preserved as a national wildlife refuge. At the center is the circular Lake Drummond, which can only be reached by boat through the manmade canals that cross the swamp. It is only about 6 feet deep, but covers 3,000 acres, and is one of the largest peatlands in North America. The dark water of the swamp is filled with tannins from the juniper and cypress trees of the swamp, and was prized for its purity in the days before refrigeration and modern water treatment. The view from the welcome center is of the canal, originally dug with the intent to drain the swamp, and use it to transport lumber out of the swamp. It now provides boating access to the swamp for visitors. (Unfortunately, I had neither time nor the boat to take advantage of this.) Aside from the black water, you can also see the straight line of cypress knees that followed the shore on both sides.

Another logging scheme: this engine once ran on 8 miles of track through the swamp to carry lumber out into the rest of the world.

As you can tell, it was a lovely day. Here you can also see the huge swirls of pollen in the water, and sprouting moss along the nature trail.

In this location Carmen Sandiego would probably steal: Lake Drummond