What is a swamp?
It’s a transition zone between land and water that creates a vitally important ecosystem.
Swamps can form in a variety of conditions — along large rivers or lakes as well as along tropical and subtropical coastlines.
This means that there can be freshwater, brackish water, or seawater in these swamps.
Here’s what you should know about swamps and whether you can use this land for certain activities like building, farming, hunting, trapping, fishing, and more.
1. What is a swamp?
A swamp is an area of land permanently saturated or filled with water.
They are often covered by water.
In the past, swamps and other wetlands have traditionally held a very low property value when compared to fields, prairies, and woodlands.
This is because they have a reputation for being unproductive land that can’t be easily utilized.
Take farming, for example.
Farmers have historically drained swamps that were next to agricultural fields so they would have more land usable for planting crops.
However, while swamps aren’t always optimal for all human activities, they do play an incredibly beneficial role in the natural environment and that’s worth recognizing as a landowner.
2. What are the two main types of swamps?
The two main types of swamps are freshwater and saltwater swamps.
Freshwater Swamps
Freshwater swamps form around lakes and streams.
In these regions, rain and seasonal flooding prompt water levels to fluctuate.
Water-tolerant vegetation grows in wet soil, and this helps to maintain a moist condition.
Here are some features of freshwater swamps in the U.S.:
- Cypress and tupelo trees
- Hanging Spanish moss on branches
- Tiny plants like duckweed covering the water’s surface
- Shrubs and bushes growing beneath the trees
- Angular knobs called cypress knees poking as much as 4 meters above the water (these are outgrowths of the trees’ root systems)
The animals that live in these waters are those adapted to fluctuating water levels like alligators, frogs, etc.
Swamps have a shadowy tree root system and cypress knobs that provide a rich, sheltered habitat for nesting birds as well as fish, amphibians, and reptiles.
A great example of a freshwater swamp is the area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in the Middle East.
This region is so rich in biodiversity that the area is called the “Fertile Crescent,” and it’s recognized as the birthplace of civilization.
It was the site of the first cities as there was abundant wildlife, agricultural opportunities, and ample ability for human communication and trade, which allowed human technological development.
Though technically a marsh, the Everglades in Florida is commonly called a swamp.
This area is called the “River of Grass” that’s a wide, slow-moving river flowing from the Kissimmee River near Orlando to the Straits of Florida.
The Everglades is home to a variety of wildlife – everything from alligators to panthers.
Saltwater Swamps
These types of swamps are found on tropical coastlines.
They are formed on bare flats of mud and sand that are thinly covered by seawater during high tides.
The plants that thrive in saltwater swamps are those that can tolerate tidal flooding like mangrove trees.
These plants begin to grow and form thickets of roots and branches.
Animals like crabs, conchs, and other shellfish live among the mangrove trees.
They feed on fallen leaves and other materials.
Saltwater swamps are also home to birds that help fertilize the region.
Many young marine animals find food and shelter in saltwater swamps, and as a result, these areas are known as the “nurseries” of the ocean.
Ocean species will enter the swamps to spawn, lay their eggs, or protect their young.
Sometimes young marine animals that are born in the ocean will live in the area until they are mature.
3. Where are swamps found?
Swamps can be found on all continents except Antarctica.
The Amazon River floodplain is the largest swamp in the world.
This region is notable for its large number of fish and tree species.
Here are the best-known swamps in the world by continent.
Africa
- Bangweulu Swamps – Zambia
- Mare aux Songes – Mauritius
- Niger Delta – Nigeria
- Okavango Swamp – Botswana
- Sudd – South Sudan
Asia
- Asmat Swamp – Indonesia
- Candaba Swamp – Philippines
- Mangrove Swamp – Pakistan
- Myristica Swamp – India
- Ratargul Swamp Forest – Bangladesh
- Sundarbans – India and Bangladesh
- Vasyugan Swamp – Russia
- Negombo Swamp – Sri Lanka
Australia
- Coomonderry Swamp
- Coastal Swamp Oak Forest
Europe
- Pripyat Marshes – Belarus
- Sur – Slovakia
North America
- Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge – Louisiana, USA
- Big Cypress National Preserve – Florida, USA
- Barley Barber Swamp – Florida, USA
- Cache River – Illinois, USA
- Caddo Lake – Texas/Louisiana, USA
- Cibuco Swamp – Puerto Rico
- Congaree Swamp – South Carolina, USA
- Everglades – Florida, USA
- First Landing State Park – Virginia, USA
- Grand Kankakee Marsh – Indiana, USA
- Great Black Swamp – Indiana/Ohio, USA
- Great Cypress Swamp – Delaware and Maryland, USA
- Great Dismal Swamp – North Carolina/Virginia, USA
- Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge – New Jersey, USA
- Green Swamp – Florida, USA
- Green Swamp – North Carolina, USA
- Honey Island Swamp – Louisiana, USA
- Hudson Bay Lowlands – Ontario, Canada
- Limberlost – Indiana, USA
- Louisiana Swamplands – Louisiana, USA
- Mingo National Wildlife Refuge – Missouri, USA
- Okefenokee Swamp – Georgia/Florida, USA
- Pantanos de Centla – Tabasco/Campeche, Mexico
- Reelfoot Lake – Tennessee/Kentucky, USA
- Texas Swamplands – Texas, USA
- Tortuguero National Park – Limon, Costa Rica
South America
- Caribbean Lowlands – Colombia
- Esteros del Iberá – Argentina
- Lahuen Ñadi – Chile
- Pantanal Brazil – Bolivia and Paraguay
- Paraná Delta – Argentina
4. How are swamps protected?
A swamp must be protected because it’s one of the most valuable ecosystems on Earth.
While some people may find themselves asking “what is a swamp,” your life has probably been affected by the presence of this ecosystem.
Swamps act as giant sponges, serving as reservoirs when heavy rains cause flooding.
They absorb all the excess water in the area and moderate the impacts of flooding.
They also protect coastal areas from storm surges that wash away the fragile coastline.
Swamps help anchor coastal soil and sand.
In nature, the ecosystem acts as a water treatment plant.
It naturally filters waste and purifies water.
Excess nitrogen and other chemicals wash into swamps where plants absorb the chemicals and use them for their own processes.
Many of the chemicals that the plants must absorb come from human activities like agriculture.
Agricultural fertilizers use nitrogen and phosphorous which can runoff into these swamps when rain occurs.
Factories, water treatment plants, and homes also contribute to runoff.
While these regions are vital ecosystems, they haven’t always been given the credit they deserve.
Humans have long viewed swamps as sinister and foreboding.
They thought of these ecosystems as simply a spot for pests and mosquitos.
Instead of being seen as a living filtration system, they were viewed as wastelands.
For this reason, filling and draining wetlands was a common practice several decades ago.
In the U.S., almost half of the wetlands were destroyed before environmental protections were put into place during the 1970s.
Today, most of the Everglades have been reclaimed as agricultural land (sugar plantations).
That said, draining swampland has also created valuable real estate.
For instance, the San Francisco Bay Area in California was formed from swampland as was Washington, DC.
The government now protects these ecosystems because they recognize their value.
And today it’s against the law to alter and destroy swamps.
Furthermore, stricter laws as well as government programs allow people to recreate them in areas where they’ve previously been decimated.
5. What is the difference between a swamp and a marsh?
Both swamps and marshes are types of wetlands.
The presence of water is the main similarity between these two.
The type of plant life present is the main difference between them.
Swamps are forested while marshes are grassy.
Swamps also tend to have deeper standing water and longer wet periods.
6. What is the difference between a swamp and a wetland?
Wetlands are areas that link land and water, and they exist all over the U.S.
This is an overarching term that includes both marshes and swamps.
These two crucial types of habitats (land and water) meet to form another crucial habitat.
Wetlands are areas of low-lying land that are saturated with water.
According to the National Park Service, the amount of saturation could be permanent or seasonal.
So, in short, a swamp is a type of wetland.
All swamps are wetlands but not all wetlands are swamps.
7. Can you build on swampland?
If you dream of building a home in certain areas, especially along the East Coast, you may come to find out that the plots are wet or swampy.
The good news is that it’s not impossible to build on swampland, but there may be federal and state regulations on what you can do.
If the swamp is a federally protected wetland, you will need a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers before you can build.
You can learn more about building on wetlands here.
If the swamp is not protected, you can construct a beautiful, sound home on wet soil as long as you take the proper precautions.
Here are a few tips you should follow.
You must budget for soil amendment
It’s often more expensive to build on swampland than you may originally assume.
To build, you’ll need to have the soil amended and strengthened.
In some cases, this simply requires you to bring in a few extra truckloads of soil to compact the ground and give the foundation a firm base.
However, in other areas, you may need to create a more complex drainage system.
This will help keep your home extra dry when it rains.
What you need will depend on your specific land, so you’ll want to get estimates for soil amendment and drainage early.
This way, you’ll be able to plan for these additional costs when you’re designing your home.
The last thing you want is to have these additional costs tacked on at the end and ruin the original budget that you created!
You must work with an experienced building company
When selecting a building company, make sure you do your research.
You want a contractor that has experience building on wet, swampy land, so you can feel confident in their ability to complete your project.
You can ask for specific addresses of projects in your area that they have completed.
Next, drive around to these homes to verify that they are the design that you’re looking for and that they appear to be structurally sound years later.
If you want to go a step further, ask for references.
The best references, in this case, will be from past customers who had homes built on wet soil.
You can ask them questions about sturdiness, water damage, moisture problems, etc. so you’re not left wondering how your contractor will perform for you.
You must be flexible with your plans
Not everything will go the way that you plan when you’re building on land with wet soil.
Before you can begin to build, your contractor will come to your home and assess your land and its quality.
When this happens, you may find that certain aspects of your dream home and land design aren’t possible with the soil quality in particular areas.
For example, if you’ve been dreaming of a long, narrow ranch home, it may not be possible.
You may find that the land is better suited for a square-shaped layout.
In general, it’s best to approach the building process with a list of ideals and an open mind.
You may not be able to get everything you want and understanding that wetlands will restrict your options will help you keep realistic expectations.
You must understand that a basement may not be possible
The wetland in swamps can make it very difficult to design a home with a basement.
This doesn’t mean that it’s altogether impossible.
However, it does mean that you’ll need to work together with your contractor to design it in a very particular way.
If your contractor tells you that you aren’t able to do it, then that’s par for the course.
Even the best and most cautious builders aren’t able to guarantee that you won’t eventually end up with water in your basement if there are soil shifts in the swampland or heavy rainfall.
In most scenarios — as much as you may want it — basements and swamplands just aren’t meant to mix.
If you want to expand your floor plan, consider including a larger garage, a bonus room on the main level, or an extra storage room.
This can help add more storage or hang-out space depending on what you were seeking out of your basement.
Final Thoughts
What is a swamp?
It’s low, forested, spongy land that’s saturated with water and covered with trees and aquatic plants.
You can find these ecosystems on every continent except Antarctica.
In the U.S., swamps cover approximately 260,000 square kilometers.
If you’re living in the eastern part of the country, chances are you’ll encounter a swamp.
Additional Resources
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Disclaimer: we are not lawyers, accountants or financial advisors and the information in this article is for informational purposes only. This article is based on our own research and experience and we do our best to keep it accurate and up-to-date, but it may contain errors. Please be sure to consult a legal or financial professional before making any investment decisions.
Prior to starting Gokce Capital, Erika received a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Southern California and a graduate degree in Urban Policy from Columbia University. She worked as both an architectural designer and engineer in New York before joining the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development.
Erika currently lives in the New York Metropolitan area with her spouse, daughter and cat. She is originally from Chicago and still considers herself a midwesterner at heart.
Erika also loves to read, write and travel (fun fact, she has visited all 50 states and more than 30 countries!). Her new book, Land Investing Mistakes: 11 True Stories You Need To Know Before Buying Land, is now available on Amazon.