The Great Swamp is a remnant of a glacial lake that drained 14,000 years ago. It provided the essentials of life for Paleo- and Lenape Indians, and wood for colonists' homes and industries. In 1959 the NY Port Authority decided to fill it in and build a 10,000-acre jetport, obliterating Chatham Twp and surrounding towns. A grassroots movement of 6,000 volunteers raised $1M to buy land to donate to the U.S. Dept of Interior to create a wildlife refuge.

Photo: via PBS

Photo: Duane and Tracy Marsteller

Summit, New Jersey · USA