We keep trying to tell you, if you only stay north of I-80, you are missing some of the best gems in the state. Southern Illinois is where it’s at as far as some of the most incredible natural beauty. The Cache River Natural Area is one of them. This swamp is something you need to check out.

1. The Cache River State Natural Area is a swamp home to bald cypress trees.
Michael/Flickr
2. Some of these trees are over 1,000 years old.
Miguel Vieira/Flickr
3. It was created when glaciers receded from the area thousands of years ago.
David Wilson/Flickr
4. Some of these trees are actually 40 feet in circumference.
David Wilson/Flickr
5. True to being a swamp, this area is full of mosquitoes and snakes.
Chris M Morris/Flickr

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6. You can go out on a boat and explore the swamp.
David Wilson/Flickr
7. Or you can explore it on foot through a boardwalk that goes through it.
Anthony George/Flickr
8. The boardwalk is only 465 feet, but you will see oaks, tupelos and cypresses.
Anthony George/Flickr
9. It gets its green color because of duckweed.
Anthony George/Flickr
10. The water is not totally motionless, but is definitely slow-moving.
Anthony George/Flickr

Have you been to the Cache River area? What do you think?

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