wetland

Everyday

A wetland is an area of land that is covered with shallow water or is wet and soggy for much of the year, such as a marsh, swamp or bog. tree →

In the lessons

In science and geography lessons, wetlands are important habitats: they are home to many birds, frogs, fish, insects and plants, they clean water like a filter, and they soak up floodwater like a sponge, protecting towns. Many wetlands have been drained for farms and buildings, so they are now protected. Examples: the Everglades (USA), Kakadu (Australia), the Somerset Levels (UK). Phrases: «protect the wetlands», «wetland birds».

Examples

• Herons and frogs live in the wetland. tree →
• Wetlands soak up water and help stop floods. tree →
• We walked on a boardwalk through the wetland. tree →
• The wetland was drained to build houses. tree →
• Wetlands clean the water that flows through them. tree →
• Many migrating birds rest in wetlands. tree →
• Stay on the path — wetland mud can be deep. tree →

Note

Plural: wetlands. One word. Kinds: marsh, swamp, bog, fen, mangrove. Not the same as a lake: a wetland has shallow water and plants growing through it.