Illinois' Wondrous Wetlands: The Cache River State Natural Area

I have lived in Illinois for all but one of my 48 years and never knew that it was home to a swamp until I visited The Cache River State Natural Area. A natural wonder, The Cache River Wetlands brings together four unique ecological regions which I recently had the pleasure of exploring with friends. There is more to see than can be taken in during a single visit.


Makeup of the Preserve

The wetlands, commonly called swamps, are inhabited by bald cypress and tupelo trees, ancient looking beings that look as though they came from another time and indeed they have as many of them reach 1000 years of age. The Cache River which feed the wetlands flows in the bed of what used to be the Ohio River before the ice age pushed it further south.

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