Carolina Bay (Aiken, South Carolina)

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Not a bay in the usual sense, Carolina Bays are oval or roughly circular depressions that are common in the lower elevations of the Carolinas. Their origins are uncertain; meteorite impacts and a variety of geological phenomena have been suggested. They tend to collect water and often develop communities of plants and animals that are not typical of the surrounding area.

Our bay is not undisturbed and even the bay itself was farmed for many years. Streets and other developments around it affect water flow into the bay and the City has installed pumps to keep water from overflowing into nearby neighborhoods. The bay supports a wide variety of wildlife and volunteers have restored the more natural Carolina Bay flora.