Swamp
|
|
A swamp is a wetland, a type of landform that features permanent inundation of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water, generally with a substantial number of hummocks, or dry-land protrusions. Swamps usually include a large amount of woody vegetation.
Very slow-moving waters generally characterize swamps, often rich in tannins from decaying vegetation. They are usually associated with adjacent rivers or lakes. In some cases, rivers become swamps for a distance. Swamps are features of areas with very low topographic relief, although mountains may surround them.
The most famous swamps in the United States are the Okefenokee Swamp (home to the cartoon characters of Pogo, by Walt Kelly) and the Great Dismal Swamp. The Okefenokee is located in southeastern Georgia and extends slightly into northeastern Florida. The Great Dismal Swamp lies in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. Both are National Wildlife Refuges. Another swamp area, Reelfoot Lake of western Tennessee, was created by the New Madrid earthquake of 1812. Caddo Lake, the Great Dismal and Reelfoot are swamps that are centered around large lakes. Swamps are often called bayous in the southeastern United States.
Rich biodiversity and specialized organisms characterize swamps. For instance, southeastern U.S. swamps, such as those mentioned above, feature trees such as the Bald cypress and Water tupelo, which are adapted to growing in standing water, and animals such as the American alligator.
A common species name in biological nomenclature is the Latin palustris, meaning "of the swamp". Examples of this are Quercus palustris (pin oak) and Thelypteris palustris (marsh fern).
| Contents |
List of Major Swamps
Africa
Asia
North America
- Caddo Lake, United States
- Great Black Swamp, United States
- Great Dismal Swamp, United States
- Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia, United States
- Reelfoot Lake, United States
- Big Cypress Swamp, Florida, United States
- Limberlost, Indiana, United States
- Honey Island Swamp, Louisiana, United States