Wetlands are ecosystems where water is the main factor influencing the environment and the plant and animal life within it. A broad definition of wetlands encompasses both freshwater and marine ecosystems, including lakes, rivers, underground aquifers, swamps, marshes, wet grasslands, peatlands, oases, estuaries, deltas, tidal flats, mangroves, and other coastal areas. It also includes human-made sites like fishponds, rice paddies, reservoirs, and saltpans.
🌱 Finland is relatively the swampiest country in the world, with mires being the second most common type of environment. Historically, nearly a third of the country was covered by mires. Finland’s marshes are crucial habitats on a global scale. Bogs also provide essential ecosystem services and serve as Finland’s largest carbon reservoir.
Vocabulary is complex here, let’s try it!
🌱 A bog is a type of freshwater wetland with soft, spongy ground made up primarily of partially decayed plant material known as peat. Bogs are typically found in cool, northern climates and often form in lake basins with poor drainage, which were created by glaciers during the last ice age.
🌱 A marsh is a type of wetland where water covers the ground for extended periods. Unlike swamps, which are primarily characterized by trees, marshes are typically treeless and are dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants.
🌱 A swamp is a wetland area that is permanently saturated or filled with water, with some swamps being entirely covered by water. There are two main types of swamps: freshwater swamps and saltwater swamps. Swamps are typically dominated by trees.
🌱 Peat bogs are dense wetlands filled with partially decayed vegetation. The waterlogged conditions and the acidic environment of the bog prevent the vegetation from fully decomposing when it dies. Instead, it accumulates very gradually over thousands of years, eventually forming peat, which can sometimes reach depths of several meters.
🌱 Walking on a spongy bog is very satisfying and calming. The smells are incredible. And during the autumn, you can pick cranberries. Wait for the first frozen nights and they’ll lose their acidity 😋
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