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.

Marshes are critically important wildlife habitat, often serving as breeding grounds for a wide variety of animal life.

Constructed wetlands featuring surface-flow design are usually in the form of a marsh.

References

See also

• Fen
• Saltmarsh
• Swamp

Landforms | Pedology | Marshes

Блато | Pantà | Marsch (Schwemmland) | Marisma | Marais | אדמת ביצה | Mocsár | Marsho | Moeras | سازلىق | Bagno (geografia) | Kärr | 沼