Swamps

Perhaps the most famous of the different types, a swamp is what most people imagine when discussing wetlands.

Swamps are found in many places. The bottom land hardwood forests in lower Mississippi, the Okefenokee Swamp on the Georgia Florida border, and the many other swamps in southern states are examples of swmaps in the U.S. Sweamps occur outside North America in tropical Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia.

A swamp can occur around different bodies of water. They often occur along river flood plains, or in the shallow waters of lakes. Swamps also tend to appear along coasts in tropical to subtropical areas.

You've probably heard someone use the term swamped to describe a place as crowded, or a person as overworked. A swamp is very crowded, and is usually packed trees and shrubs, although the exact vegetation varies from one swamp to another.

Infact, many things vary between swamps. Swamps often have different water chemistry and soil contents. They run the range from rich in minerals to almost deviod. Due to varying flood conditions, a swamp may be flooded for all or only a small part of a year.

Back

Marshes

Peatlands