Congaree National Park. 02/02/12; South Carolina; 10,539 ha; 33°47'22"N 80°45'34"W. National Park. A mosaic of freshwater swamp forests, seasonal sloughs, forested peatlands, permanent and seasonal creeks, permanent freshwater lakes, and shrub-dominated wetlands, containing the largest remaining example of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in North America. The park supports a variety of species with different conservation status under the National Endangered Species Act, such as the Rafinesque Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii), Southeastern Myotis (Myotis austroriparius), Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Wood Stork (Mycteria americana), Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus), Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), and Spotted Turtle (Clemmys guttata). The site is an important over-wintering area for large numbers of temperate migrants and year-round residents. One winter census documented over 2,000 birds per 101ha, one of the highest wintering bird densities reported in the United States. It supports 56 species of fish, or almost 40% of the freshwater fish species known to exist in South Carolina. Since 2001, a new visitors' center has been opened. Visitor activities include hiking, fishing, birdwatching, canoeing and camping. Threats include the presence of invasive species like feral pigs (Sus scrofa), privet (Ligustrum spp.), Japanese stilt grass (Microstegium vimineum), kudzu (Pueraria Montana), wisteria (Wisteria sinensis), and Japanese climbing fern (Lygodium japonicum). Ramsar Site no. 2030. Most recent RIS information: 2012.