Information AboutSwamp |
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.]] , New South Wales .]] A swamp is a ) In North America, swamps are usually regarded as including a large amount of woody Vegetation , but elsewhere this may not necessarily apply, such as in African swamps dominated by Papyrus . By contrast a Marsh in North America is a wetland without woody vegetation, or elsewhere, a wetland without woody vegetation which is shallower and has less open water surface than a swamp. A mire (or '''quagmire''') is a low-lying wetland of deep, soft soil or mud that sinks underfoot. GEOLOGY Swamps are generally characterized by very slow-moving waters, often rich in Tannin s from decaying vegetation. They are usually associated with adjacent River s or Lake s. In some cases, rivers become swamps for a distance. Swamps are features of areas with very low Topographic relief, although they may be surrounded by mountains. ECOLOGY Swamps are characterized by rich biodiversity and specialized organisms. 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 Animal s 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 ). DRAINING Swamps were historically often Drained to provide additional land for Agriculture , and to reduce the threat of diseases born by swamp insects and similar animals. Swamps were generally seen as useless and even dangerous. This practice of swamp draining is nowadays seen as a destruction of a very valuable ecological habitat type of which large tracts have already disappeared in many countries. FAMOUS EXAMPLES In Iraq The Tigris-Euphrates River System is a large swamp and river system in southern Iraq , inhabited in part by the Marsh Arabs . It was partly drained by Saddam Hussein in the 1990s in retaliation against the Shiite tribes' revolt against his dictatorship. swamp at Highlands Hammock State Park , United States Of America .]] In the United States The most famous swamps in the United States are the Everglades , Okefenokee Swamp and the Great Dismal Swamp . The Okefenokee is located in extreme southeastern Georgia and extends slightly into northeastern Florida . The Great Dismal Swamp lies in extreme southeastern Virginia and extreme northeastern North Carolina . Both are National Wildlife Refuge s. Another swamp area, Reelfoot Lake of extreme western Tennessee , was created by the New Madrid Earthquake of 1812. Caddo Lake , the Great Dismal and Reelfoot are swamps that are centered at large lakes. Swamps are often called '' Bayou s'' in the Southeastern United States , especially in the Gulf Coast region. HERALDRY A swamp appears in the Coat Of Arms of Gesturi , Italy . LIST OF MAJOR SWAMPS Africa Asia North America
South America SEE ALSO REFERENCES |
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