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Wetland Basics | Ponds
| Streams
| Bogs & Fens
Marshes
| Pollution | Wetlands
Marshes
In geography, a
marsh is a type of wetland, featuring grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, cat tails, and other herbaceous
plants (possibly with low-growing woody
plants) in a context of shallow water. A marsh is different from a
swamp, which is dominated by trees rather
than grasses and low herbs. The water of a marsh can be fresh, brackish or saline. Coastal marshes may be associated
with estuaries and
along waterways between coastal barrier
islands and the inner
coast. Estuarine marshes often are based on soils consisting of
sandy bottoms or bay muds.
The shallow-water
marsh provides feeding grounds for "wading" birds such as cranes and
egrets. The marshland is "ephemeral", meaning that the water supply
is dependant upon seasonal periods of precipitation and run-off. In
our desert climate, there are times during the year that the marsh
area may be completely dry.
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