Bald cypress and Spanish moss in the Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana, USA
The Atchafalaya Basin is the largest wetland and swamp in the United States. Located in south-central Louisiana, it contains about 400,000 hectares of swamps, lakes and marshes. The bald cypress trees – seen here draped in Spanish moss – are an iconic part of this incredibly rich ecosystem. Wildlife here includes crawfish, catfish, shrimp, bears, alligators and over 270 species of birds.
The term 'Atchafalaya' comes from the Choctaw word 'hacha falaia', meaning 'long river' – the Native American people traditionally lived in what is now the Southeastern United States
