A wetland is an area where land and water meet and mix for long periods, creating its own special kind of ecosystem.

Simple definition

  • A wetland is land that is often covered with water or so soaked that the ground stays very wet for long stretches of the year, not just after a quick rain.
  • This constant or regular wetness changes the soil, the plants, and the animals that can live there, so wetlands don’t look or function like dry land or open lakes and rivers.

Key features (how to recognize one)

  • Water is present at or near the surface for long periods (seasonally or year‑round).
  • Soils are “hydric” – they form in low‑oxygen, waterlogged conditions and look and behave differently from normal garden soil.
  • Plants are water‑loving species (called hydrophytes) that are specially adapted to live with their roots in saturated, low‑oxygen ground.

Common types of wetlands (with examples)

  • Marshes – soft‑stemmed plants like reeds and cattails in shallow water.
  • Swamps – wetlands with lots of trees or shrubs, often in slow‑moving or standing water.
  • Bogs – acidic, peat‑forming wetlands, often fed mostly by rain, with mosses and specialized plants.
  • Fens – peat‑forming too, but fed by groundwater or surface water and usually less acidic than bogs.

All of these can occur in freshwater, brackish, or even salty coastal areas, as long as that “wet ground for long periods” condition is met.

Why wetlands matter (quick scoop)

  • They store and slowly release water, helping reduce floods downstream.
  • Their plants and soils filter pollutants, improving water quality.
  • They are biodiversity hotspots, supporting many species of birds, fish, insects, and plants that depend on wet conditions.
  • They store carbon in their soggy soils and peat, which helps limit climate change when the wetlands are preserved.

In one line (TL;DR)

A wetland is water‑soaked land that stays wet long enough to grow water‑adapted plants, build special wet soils, and function as a unique, highly valuable ecosystem between dry land and open water.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.