Retired Biologist’s Hand-Drawn Swamp Map Astounds Rangers

Congaree National Park, South Carolina: A 77-year-old retired biologist spent decades carefully exploring the park’s floodplain forests, meticulously recording cypress groves, water channels, and wildlife habitats by hand. His detailed, handmade map has become so accurate that rangers now prefer it over official park materials. It includes special notations of centuries-old trees, secret oxbow lakes, and remnants of past logging roads, illustrating the deep bond between one observer and a dynamic wetland. Visitors who use this map often discover hidden corners they’d otherwise miss, sparking a newfound appreciation for America’s lesser-known swamplands.