A swamp is a type of wetland ecosystem. Swamps are forested, low, spongy land generally saturated with water and covered with trees and aquatic plants.[1] Big parts of swamps are often flooded with water. Swamps are nesting and breeding grounds for birds and other animals.
The water of a swamp may be fresh water, brackish water, or seawater. Freshwater swamps form along large rivers or lakes.[2] Saltwater swamps are found along tropical and subtropical coastlines.
About 6 percent of Earth's surface is covered by swamps. Swamps are also filters for groundwater and protect against flooding. Swamps are one of the key wetland areas which are protected by the international agency Ramsar.
Some well-known swamps are:
- The Pantanal is the world's biggest wetland. It covers an area of 140,000 square kilometers, bigger than the area covered by the country Greece. The Panatal is in South America. It is shared by Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay.[3]
- The Everglades
- The Okefenokee
- The Sundarbans
Peat accumulates in these swamps. Some of the world's largest swamps are found along major rivers such as the Amazon, the Mississippi, and the Congo.[4]
References
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