Amicalola Falls State Park,near Dawsonville, has been named Georgia'stop natural "spiritual home" in a survey examining the outdoor places people turn to for peace, reflection and emotional comfort.
The survey, commissioned by A Mission for Michaeland conducted by Cherry Data Signals, asked 3,001 respondents to identify the natural place in their state that holds the greatest personal or spiritual significance to them.
The results ranked Amicalola FallsNo. 1 in Georgia, followed by destinations along the coast, in the mountains and across the state's distinctive natural landscapes.
The survey used the term "spiritual home" to describe a natural setting where people feel grounded, at peace or connected to something bigger than themselves.
These five Georgia destinations ranked highest
The survey's
top five natural spiritual homes in Georgia were:
- Amicalola Falls, Amicalola Falls State Park, near Dawsonville
- Sea Camp Beach, Cumberland Island National Seashore, near St. Marys
- Hurricane Falls, Tallulah Gorge State Park, near Tallulah Falls
- Providence Canyon rim trail, Providence Canyon State Park, near Lumpkin
- Chesser Island Boardwalk, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, near Folkston
The locations represent a range of Georgia landscapes, from a mountain waterfall and a coastal beach to a deep gorge, colorful canyon and expansive wetland habitat.
The survey findings do not establish why individual respondents selected each destination, but the overall results point to the personal importance people place on natural spaces.
How much would Georgians pay to protect their favorite place?
Respondents said they would pay an average of $1,236 to protect their chosen natural spiritual home from destruction, according to the survey.
The amount reflects hypothetical responses rather than money pledged or collected to protect the sites.
The survey also found that 69% of respondents said permanently losing their chosen natural place would represent a significant personal loss.
The findings suggest that, for many respondents, the value of a natural destination goes beyond its scenery or recreational opportunities.
Why do people turn to nature for comfort?
Peace and an escape from everyday pressures were the most frequently selected reasons respondents felt connected to their natural spiritual homes.
According to the survey, 35% said the calm and opportunity to get away from daily pressures were what most connected them to their chosen place.
Other respondents cited feeling part of something bigger than themselves (16%), important memories of family or friends (13%) and a sense of awe or wonder (12%).
Nearly half said they had expressed difficult emotions outdoors
The survey also examined how respondents use natural settings during emotionally challenging periods.
Nearly half, or 48%, said they had visited a natural place to express emotions they felt unable to show around other people. Another 43% said they had not.
Everyday stress or feeling overwhelmed was the most commonly reported reason for seeking comfort in nature, cited by 36% of respondents.
For more information, amfmtreatment.com/blog/soul-sanctuaries-natural-places-residents-consider-their-spiritual-homes.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia, covering food and entertainment. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Amicalola Falls named Georgia's top 'spiritual home' in new survey
