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Swamp forest trees, such as these bald cypresses in Louisiana, often have trunks that are wide at their bases. This helps to stabilize them in the saturated soil where they grow.

What Are Wetlands?

A wetland is a region where water and land interact. It consists not only of the water and the land, but also of the plants that have adapted to live there. These plants contribute to the way the wetland develops. There are many different types of wetland, ranging from swamps and mangrove forests in the tropics to peat bogs on windswept mountains. Large wetland areas such as the Florida Everglades in the United States, or the Okavango Delta in southern Africa, are famous for their rich and unique mixtures of wildlife. Different Types of Wetland Marshes are among the most common wetlands. They are usu- ally shallow, and support beds of reeds and rushes. They get water directly from springs and rivers—especially when these waterways floods over their banks—as well as from rainfall. In

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