Swamp facts for kids

The Pantanal, world's largest wetland

A swamp is part of a wetland ecosystem. Swamps are forested, low, spongy land generally saturated with water and covered with trees and aquatic plants. Big parts of swamps are often flooded with water. Swamps are nesting and breeding grounds for birds and other animals.

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 which is the world's biggest wetland and covers an area of 140,000 square kilometers, which is bigger than the area covered by the country Greece. The Panatal is in South America. It is shared by Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay.
• The Everglades
• The Okefenokee
• The Wadden Sea

Images for kids

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  A freshwater swamp in Florida.

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  A black alder swamp in Germany.

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  Mass deforestation causes the appearance of swamps. Belorucheiskaya (Russia) forestry railway in 1977.

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  Swamp in southern Louisiana

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  A small swamp in Padstow, New South Wales.

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  Inside a mangrove canopy, Salt Pan Creek, New South Wales

See also

In Spanish: Pantano para niños