Francis Beidler Forest
The Francis Beidler Forest is an Audubon wildlife sanctuary in Four Holes Swamp, a blackwater creek system in South Carolina, United States. It consists of over 18,000 acres (73 km²) of mainly bald cypress and tupelo gum hardwood forest and swamp with approximately 1,800 acres (7 km2) of old-growth forest. It is the largest virgin stand of cypress-tupelo forest in the world, with some Bald Cypress trees over 1,000 years old. It is a favorite haunt of birdwatchers and is used for biological research projects by area schools.
| Francis Beidler Forest | |
|---|---|
Cypress knees from the Beidler Forest. | |
Map of South Carolina Francis Beidler Forest (the United States) | |
| Location | South-central South Carolina |
| Coordinates | 33°14′02″N 80°21′40″W |
| Area | 16,000 acres (6,500 ha) |
| Governing body | National Audubon Society |
| beidlerforest | |
Ramsar Wetland | |
| Designated | 30 May 2008 |
| Reference no. | 1773 |
U.S. National Natural Landmark | |
| Designated | 1979 |
The preserve was established to protect one of only two stands of old-growth forest in South Carolina. On May 30, 2008 the forest was designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. It was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1979. In 2020, Four Holes Swamp was designated a site on the National Park Service's Underground Railroad - Network to Freedom program.