What are marshlands and marshes?

A marsh or marshland is an area of wetlands at the edge of lakes and streams. It is the area, or ecosystem, between a water source and dry land, where there are grasses, reeds, bulrushes, and other aquatic plants. Lilies are a common marsh plant.

This area is an excellent habitat for many animals, such as fish, frogs, toads, insects, reptiles, water birds, tortoises, terrapins, and aquatic animals.

A swamp has mainly trees, but marshes have mainly grasses and reeds and low bushes.

Marshes help to improve water quality because marshes act like a filter to separate pollutants and sediment from the water that flows through them.

There are different types of marshes in most regions of the world, such as salt marshes (near lagoons and estuaries), freshwater tidal marshes (near oceans and saltwater), and freshwater marshes (the most common type of marsh, found inland).

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM