1. My Special Place: Cypress Swamp near Canton, MS
Faith Ann Heinsch
August 16, 2007

2. Where is Cypress Swamp?
Located along the Natchez Trace Parkway, the nation’s longest national park (444 mi)
Only ~100’ wide

3.  (32.57957°, -89.8701°) elevation = 93 m (305 ft)
From the National Park Service Map of the Natchez Trace,
downloaded on August 25, 2006

4. (32.57957°, -89.8701°) elevation = 93 m (305 ft)X

5. /X From the Mississippi State Highway Map,
downloaded on August 25, 2006

6. 
From
downloaded on
August 25, 2006

7. Why is it special to me?
Minutes from home, it is easy to get to: a quiet haven to wander the boardwalk, listen to birds, and watch wildlife
It is breathtaking to see the towering trees above you.
Its history….“The Trace” started as an animal track, was adopted for travel by Native Americans, and was used by “Kaintucks” to get home from Natchez and New Orleans after floating their goods down the river, during which time it became a robber’s haven known as the “Devil’s Backbone.” Construction of the modern Natchez Trace Parkway began in 1939 by the Civilian Conservation Corps under the direction of the National Park Service.

8. Why is it special?
There are chances to see wildlife… birds, deer, (alligators who like to sun on logs or even the boardwalk) …
8’ or 2.5 m long

9. Why is it special? …and snakes, like these cottonmouths
(water moccasins)

10. What type of vegetation grows in Cypress Swamp?
Cypress Swamp contains bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) and water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica), both deciduous trees.
Little other vegetation (except algae!) grows in the slough itself because of the mesic conditions.
DBH is measured above butt-swell.
Best guess on the larger trees are inches. Tree height guess is ft.

11. What type of vegetation grows in Cypress Swamp?
Foreground = water tupelo (light bark)
Behind knees = cypress (long, stringy gray bark)

12. What type of vegetation grows in Cypress Swamp?
Foreground = water tupelo (light bark)
Behind knees = cypress (long, stringy gray bark)

13. What type of vegetation grows in Cypress Swamp?
Most is swamp tupelo, some cypress
Soon as you get up in elevation – loblolly pine, oaks
Old oxbow of Pearl River
“slough”

14. What type of vegetation grows in Cypress Swamp?
Most is swamp tupelo, some cypress
Soon as you get up in elevation – loblolly pine, oaks
Old oxbow of Pearl River
“slough”
High SI for loblolly – some are ~100’ tall