View source for Okefenokee Wilderness

{{Short description|Wilderness area in Georgia, USA}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox protected area 
| name = Okefenokee Wilderness
| iucn_category = Ib
| photo = 
| photo_caption = 
| map = USA
| relief = 1
| map_caption = 
| location = [[Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[United States|USA]]
| nearest_city = [[Folkston, Georgia]]
| coordinates = {{coord|30|51|3.4307|N|82|18|57.9348|W|region:US|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref = 
| area = 353,981 acres (1,432.5 km<sup>2</sup>)
| established = 1974
| visitation_num = 
| visitation_year = 
| governing_body = [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service|U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service]]
}}

[[File:OkefenokeeNWR3.jpg|150px|thumb|left|Okefenokee Wilderness]]

'''Okefenokee Wilderness''' is a 353,981 acre (1,432.5&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) [[U.S. Wilderness Area]] located in southeastern Georgia in the [[Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge]]. It was established and governed under the [[Wilderness Act]] of 1974 when {{convert|343850|acre|km2}} were designated as wilderness by [http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&WID=426&tab=Public%20Laws Public Law 93-429]. The wilderness area is located entirely within the state of Georgia, even though small parts of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Okefenokee Swamp both extend southward into the state of [[Florida]].
{{stack|[[File:Okefenokee-map.jpg|200px|thumb|right|Map of Okefenokee NWR showing the Wilderness Area]]}}
Located in the heart of the [[Okefenokee Swamp]], this tract of land has been set aside for [[future generations]] to enjoy. No further uses such as timber harvesting, farming, or road building will be permitted. While the public is invited to engage in recreational opportunities such as fishing, hiking, canoeing, and wildlife observation, all uses are primitive and nondestructive and all access is by either foot traffic or boat. Boats having 10&nbsp;hp or less are allowed and can be rented along with canoes at the two main entrance ways on either side (West or East) of the swamp.

== See also ==
* [[List of U.S. Wilderness Areas]]
* [[Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge]]
* [[Okefenokee Swamp]]

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20121001082215/http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&wid=426 Wilderness.net]
* [http://www.recreation.gov/detail.cfm?ID=4839 Recreation.gov overview]
* [http://www.okeswamp.com/ Okefenokee Swamp Park homepage]

{{Protected Areas of Georgia (U.S. state)}}

[[Category:Protected areas of Charlton County, Georgia]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Clinch County, Georgia]]
[[Category:IUCN Category Ib]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Ware County, Georgia]]
[[Category:Wilderness areas of Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1974]]