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[[Image:Swamp.jpg|thumb|250px|right|A freshwater swamp]] |
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:''This article is about the wetland type (a landform). For other uses of the term "swamp", see [[swamp (disambiguation)]].'' |
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A '''swamp''' is a [[wetland]] that features permanent inundation of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water, generally with a substantial number of [[hummock]]s, or dry-land protrusions. Swamps usually are regarded as including a large amount of woody [[vegetation]]. When a wetland area does not, it is usually termed a [[marsh]]. A '''mire''' (or '''quagmire''') is a low-lying wetland of deep, soft soil or mud that sinks underfoot. |
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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. |
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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 extreme southeastern [[Georgia (state)|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 fault zone|New Madrid earthquake]] of 1812. [[Caddo Lake]], the Great Dismal and Reelfoot are swamps that are centered around large lakes. Swamps are often called ''[[bayou]]s'' in the [[southeastern United States]]. |
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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 [[Taxodium distichum|Bald cypress]] and [[Nyssa|Water tupelo]], which are adapted to growing in standing water, and [[animal]]s such as the American [[alligator]]. |
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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]]). |
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[[Image:CypressSwamp.jpg|thumb|350px|[[Cypress]] Swamp at [[Highlands Hammock State Park]]]] |
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===List of Major Swamps=== |
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====Africa==== |
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* [[Bangweulu Swamp]], [[Zambia]] |
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* [[Okavango Swamp]], [[Botswana]] |
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* [[Sudd]], [[Sudan]] |
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* [[Niger Delta]],[[Nigeria]] |
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====Asia==== |
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* [[Asmat Swamp]], [[Indonesia]] |
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* [[Vasyugan Swamp]], [[Russia]] |
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====North America==== |
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* [[Caddo Lake]], United States |
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* [[Great Black Swamp]], United States |
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* [[Great Dismal Swamp]], United States |
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* [[Okefenokee Swamp]], Georgia, United States |
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* [[Reelfoot Lake]], United States |
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* [[Big Cypress National Preserve]], Florida, United States |
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* [[Limberlost]], Indiana, United States |
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* [[Honey Island Swamp]], Louisiana, United States |
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====South America==== |
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* [[Pantanal]], [[Brazil]] |
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==See also== |
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*[[Will o' the wisp]] |
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*[[Marsh gas]] |
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*[[Slough (wetland)|Slough]] |
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*[[Hydrogen sulfide]] |
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*[[Marsh]] |
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*[[Muck (soil)|Muck]] |
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*[[Peat]] |
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*[[Aquatic plant]] |
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[[Category:Landforms]] |
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[[Category:Wetlands| ]] |
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[[de:Sumpf]] |
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[[es:Pantano]] |
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[[fi:Suo]] |
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[[fr:Marais]] |
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[[sv:Träsk]] |
Revision as of 00:14, 23 October 2005
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