Water Always Wins

Wetlands are places where water stalls on the land at least part of the year, or where the water table is high enough to support plants who like wet roots. There are four main kinds: marsh, swamp, bog, and fen. Which name applies depends on whether they lie by a river, lake, or ocean or are isolated from other water; the soil and geology; whether they’re fed by rain, surface water, or groundwater; and what types of dissolved matter they contain that influence the water chemistry. All these factors affect which plants can grow, creating different ecosystems.