Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge now considered one of the most important natural sites in the world

(NBC, KYMA) - A swamp in the Southeast is now considered one of the most important natural sites in the world, a big honor for a strange place.

UNESCO, or The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, has just given the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia the new accolades.

"The Okefenokee is truly wild. It's a place for animals and plants to be able to roam free and do what they do without the influence of mankind," said Michael Lusk, with Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

Michael Lusk manages the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, its dense wetland forests, ancient peat bogs, and hundreds of species of plants and animals, and it's huge. 400,000 acres.

"The Okefenokee is the largest swamp of its kind in the world," Lusk shared.

But support has not been unanimous, some residents question whether the United Nations may start influencing the region.

The designation is expected to bring a big economic boost to the area, and just as important, a chance to show off one of America's natural wonders.

Long-time visitor Alice Keyes welcomes the new company, saying, "I came here for the first time 30 years ago, and I've been coming ever since, now I bring my kids, we fish, we kayak, we camp quite a bit, and it's just magical."