Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge proves that wilderness doesn’t need mountains or coastlines to matter. Just 30 miles from Manhattan, these 7,800 acres of wetlands are a critical stopover for 244 bird species and a living reminder that nature persists even in our most developed corridors. It’s proof that protected swampland isn’t wasted space—it’s essential habitat doing the quiet work of filtering water, preventing floods, and giving wildlife a fighting chance.