The Cooper River

The Cooper River is a river in the U.S. state of South Carolina. Several cities are located along the river, primarily Charleston. Short and wide, the Wando River joins the Cooper, then it flows south and unites with the Ashley River in the estuary forming Charleston Harbor. The Cooper River was connected to the Santee River by a canal built in the late 18th century. Today Lake Moultrie and two canals connect the Cooper River to Lake Marion.

The Cooper River was formerly spanned by both the Silas N. Pearman Bridge, and the John P. Grace Memorial Bridge. These bridges have since been demolished and replaced by the recently completed Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge. The new bridge is higher than the old ones, to accommodate larger modern ships coming into the Port of Charleston.

In service since August 8, 1929, the Grace Memorial Bridge was the oldest of the three. Named for the commissioner who inspired the state's highway system and parallel to the Grace Memorial Bridge, the Pearman Bridge opened on April 29, 1966. Previous to the completion of The Arthur Ravenel Bridge the Grace Memorial Bridge was referred to as the 'Old Cooper River Bridge' while the Pearman Bridge was called the 'New Cooper River Bridge.' The Arthur Ravenel Bridge (or New Cooper River Bridge)opened to traffic on July 16, 2005. Demolition of the Grace and Pearman bridges began shortly afterwards and was completed in 2007.

A very popular 10k run over the river occurs each spring, the Cooper River Bridge Run and Walk.

Daniel Island and Drum Island (uninhabited) are located in the river. Cargo terminals, a paper mill, and the former Charleston Navy Base line its shore. Rice was heavily cultivated on plantations surrounding the Cooper River from colonial times to the civil war. The Patriot's Point naval & maritime museum sits at the mouth of the river. Berthed at Patriot's Point are four museum ships, most notably the USS Yorktown, a World War II aircraft carrier.

“Goose Creek” A tributary of the Cooper River was the site of a U.S. Navy submarine base through the late 90’s and functioned as a nuclear weapons handling facility servicing FBM (Fleet Ballistic Submarines) until the advent of the larger Trident Class which required a deeper draft.

Stay tuned, tomorrow I will bring some pictures from Patriots Point and the old WWII aircraft carrier!

My wordless Sunday #9 - In Charleston SC

The Garden of Eden - is to find here!

The way into the Garden

Door to heaven...?

This must be the "Garden of Eden", a picture perfect paradise!

Deep green water and only peace in the air

A sanctuary for all kind of birds singing and the White Heron was looking out for food.

A sea of Azaleas everywhere your eyes are looking

A dream in pastel...

Am I in the tropics or what....?

Spanish Moss hanging from the trees, touching the water - it makes this place very romantic and heaven like. I enjoyed this afternoon very much!

This garden

is a wonderful treatment for your eyes and for your soul - it's Paradise!

Please visit THE MEPKIN ABBEY, Moncks Corner SC

Spring is back - Yeah!

It's a sign and a prove that spring time is back here in Charleston, after some really frosty days we had.

I love it, I love it...! :-))

Charleston's Flowers

These pictures were photographed one week ago in Cypress Gardens and in Down Town and I hope they are not gone by this cold weather we have just now here in Charleston.

It's way to cold for the blooming nature and way more too cold for us - me and David - sun spoiled kids from Key West, as we are! We are still not used to this very cool temperatures up here in the "North". :-))

Doors and Gates in Charleston

And there are many, many more of these beautiful doors and gates in this wonderful town! I hope you enjoyed these series.

"Wildlife" in Down Town

In all the seven years I lived in Key West I have not seen one of these cute and rapidly moving Squirrels and here in Charleston they are everywhere - and they amused me very much running up and down the trees and on the walls in one of Down Towns parks, always on the search to find some food.

Happy Easter - My wordless Sunday #8

Blue Window

Spring is life Spring is hope So is love and happiness. Spring renews. Without spring, life is forlorn. Spring is nostalgia after bitter storm. Put spring in your heart Archie Greenidge

Beautiful Flowers in Cypress Gardens

As a big flower lover I had a very great and exciting time here in Cypress Gardens to capture all the beauty in these wonderful plants and nature scenes.

A Walk on the Wild Side in Cypress Gardens

In the late 1920's, Dean Hall Plantation in Berkeley County was owned by Benjamin Kittredge as a winter retreat and hunting preserve. Mr. Kittredge especially enjoyed duck hunting in the black water impoundments that were remnants left from the days when Dean Hall was a mojor rice plantation on the Cooper River. The story is told that one day when he was out hunting, he became entracted by the reflection of a red maple leaf in the mirror-like waters of the swamp. This experience inspired Mr. Kittredge to re-capture this image by planting thousands of azaleas, cammellias, dogwoods, wisteria, daffodils and iris along the dikes of the impoundments. He imported winter-blooming Daphne and paid a penny for each Atamasco lily bulb that local children brought him from nearby woods. As the years passed, Mr. Kittredge created the 163 acre swamp garden presently known as Cypress Gardens. The reflections of fuschia, red, white, lavendar, and pink on the smooth black water enthrall visitors from around the world.

Pictures with all the beautiful flowers and trees in this garden, scroll down and see my posts from yesterday and days before!

The butterfly house and fresh water aquarium feature native species of butterflies, reptiles, fish and amphibians for public view as well as education programs. Benches in the butterfly house afford guests the opportunity to relax and watch as the colorful creatures flit about and feed on the plants. At any one time visitors can count eight or more species of butterflies. Included in the butterfly house is an observation beehive and arthropod exhibit. Visitors can learn about tarantulas, scorpions, hissing cockroaches and various other arthropods. The pond is home to turtles, fish and Woody the Wood Duck, while the box turtles roam about in their own grassy pastures. The flowering plants in the butterfly house have a purpose in that they are either nectar food or larval food for the various butterflies.



The alligator snapper turtle named "Frankenturtle", is on loan to Cypress Gardens from Raorks Reptiles. Weighing in at 120 pounds and being about 42 years old, "Frankenturtle" has visible signs of a hard life. Years ago the huge turtle was shot through the head and its skull was shattered. The wires used by the vet to put the pieces back together still show on the top of his head - hence the name "Frankenturtle".



Cypress Gardens is home to countless wildlife species from tiny mosquito fish to the mighty alligator. Wood ducks, hawks, osprey, herons, egrets and even white ibis and wood storks can be seen at certain times. Many warblers, including the golden prothonotary, next here each spring and summer, and the winter's silence is often broken by the raucous call of the blue jay or the chattering of the Carolina Wren. Deer, raccoon, opossum, and bobcat tracks are a constant reminder of lively nocturnal wanderings. Otter are often seen slipping through the black water on warm winter days. Lots of turtles can be seen basking in the sun and an occasional snake can be noticed slipping into the water. Of course, the most popular creatures at Cypress Gardens are the alligators.

The big white Heron bird in Cypress Gardens. It took me many shots to get him posed like that. :-)

A visit in the Cypress Gardens #3

The "Lightning strike" tree

With the feet in blue water

Looking up to the sky

Mysterious and beautiful

Swamp, swamp, swamp