Atlanta (global-adventures.us): Photographers of all levels can now explore the Apalachicola National Forest during a 5-day hands-on expedition developed by Global Adventures, LLC (http://www.global-adventures.us/). Participants will experience the unique flora and fauna of the ecosystem during daily hikes that cover the Wakulla Springs State Park as well as isolated areas such as Sheep Island or or Bonnet Ponds. Two Wilderness Areas, the Bradwell Bay and Mudswamp - New River, are within the 571,088 acres (2,311 square kilometer) area that offers an abundance of outdoor activities including hiking, horse-back riding, and canoeing. 67 miles (108 kilometers) of the Florida Trail run through the 
forest, and the Apalachee Savannas near the Apalachicola River frequently showcase stunning displays of wildflowers. The river has the highest diversity of freshwater fish species in the state and offers some of the best fishing in the panhandle.
The Wakulla Springs State Park hosts one of the world's largest and deepest freshwater springs. Over 180 species of birds including limpkin, purple gallinule, anhinga, and osprey frequent the area. The park has three nature trail systems which lead through pine forests, bald cypress wetlands and hardwood hammock. Wakulla spring has an outflow of up to 860,000 gallons (3,256,000 liters) per minute and gives rise to Wakulla River. It flows south for several miles and empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Sally Ward Spring and Cherokee Sink are located within the park boundaries, and the Leon Sink karst system is close by.
The Camel Lake, Silver Lake, and Wright Lake Recreation Areas offer camping in picturesque, secluded settings, and Leon Sink, one of the most extensive underwater cave systems in the world, is a designated geological area.
During the expedition, photographers will be able to participate in a workshop, test new gear, upgrade skills on image processing, or learn more about marketing tools available to present and sell images (topics vary depending on the date of the tour booked). Some of the seminars are sponsored by manufacturers; others are presented by experienced photo journalists and editors.
Global Adventures, LLC has developed the tour in cooperation with Imagine Your World (http://www.imagine-your-world.com/), a leading photography website. In 2012, photographers will have a chance to explore some European and South American countries. Highlights include trips to France and Malta. Advance reservations are required for the tour “The Apalachicola National Forest.” Please refer to http://www.imagine-your-world.com/tours/apalachicola-national-forest/ for more details and travel dates available.
Global Adventures, LLC (http://www.global-adventures.us/) is a leading tour operator specializing in tours and expeditions for photographers, scuba divers, and cyclists. The company is also a distributor for scuba diving gear, bicycles, and bicycle parts. To keep up-to-date on the latest news from Global Adventures, LLC, please sign up for the company's RSS news feed by visiting http://www.global-adventures.us/feed/rss/ or follow discussions on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Global-Adventures-LLC/131527976230?v=wall and Twitter at http://twitter.com/berndlaeschke.
Imagine Your World features award winning photography plus news and reviews covering cameras, lenses, and digital image processing. The company operates a storefront at http://www.imagine-your-world.smugmug.com/. Photo: www.imagine-your-world.com
