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What are wetlands? -

America’s wetlands are the most diverse biomes in the nation, and some of the most diverse across the world. They are home to at least one third of all the endangered species in America, and, despite their undeserved reputation as hostile wastelands, the swamps, marshes, and bogs of America are essential to its environmental health.

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The importance of wetlands -

Similar to the rainforests of tropical zones, America's wetlands act as the lungs of the country, sequestering bad carbon dioxide from the air and converting it into oxygen with impressive efficiency. They filter water in a similar fashion, and are incredibly beneficial to the health of groundwater systems. Wetlands are also instrumental in controlling the flow of rivers, preventing flooding, curbing the impact of erosion, and are the homes of thousands of species of plants, animals, fish, and insects.

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Wetlands at risk -

Unfortunately, wetlands were poorly understood until relatively recently, and extensive damage has already been done to these essential ecosystems. Today's marshes and bogs constitute less than half of the wetlands that existed before European colonization. Unruly use of groundwater deposits, oil projects, and general disrespect have cut deep wounds into these necessary and fragile biomes.

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The Emergency Wetland Resources Act -

The Emergency Wetland Resources act went into law in 1986, and made it possible for the federal government to buy up swaths of wetlands and protect them under federal law, in an effort to curb the rapid loss of wetlands nationwide. Since then, numerous bogs and swamps have become wildlife refuges and national parks, and countless biologists, ecologists, and botanists work tirelessly to better understand and more effectively protect and restore America's precious wetlands. Now, let's familiarize ourselves with some of the most famous and most important wetlands in the country.

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The Everglades -

By far the most famous wetlands in the United States, the Floridian Everglades are also one of the largest. In fact, the Everglades make up the third largest national park in the Lower 48. A few hundred years ago, however, it was even bigger. Rapid advancements in industry and agriculture during the 1800s completely destroyed around 50% of these wetlands.

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The Everglades -

Despite humankind's wanton destruction of this wondrous ecosystem, the Everglades is still one of the most impressive, diverse, and important regions in the country. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to the largest mangrove forest in the Western Hemisphere, as well as numerous endangered species that are instrumental to the balance of the ecosystem at large, including manatees, panthers, and numerous types of sea turtles.

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Merced National Wildlife Refuge -

Located in central California, about two hours south of Sacramento, the Merced National Wildlife Refuge is a breathtaking and diverse expanse of marshlands, grasslands, and waterways.

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Merced National Wildlife Refuge -

The marshlands within Merced are of exceptional ecological importance. Located on the Pacific Flyway, one of the Western Hemisphere's largest migratory routes for birds, the refuge is the winter home to more than 100,000 birds belonging to more than 200 species.

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Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge -

The Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge, which straddles the coastal border of Florida and Georgia, is one of the world's largest freshwater ecosystems and contains the largest blackwater swamp in America. "Blackwater" refers to a highly acidic body of water that moves at a snail's pace, and is tinted a dark green, almost black, hue, from the decomposing, tannin-rich vegetation in and on top of the water.

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Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge -

The massive body of fresh water is home to an estimated 12,000 American alligators, and is also home to numerous species of turtles, lizards, and cypress trees, making for an incredibly healthy and diverse ecosystem. Like all wetlands, however, the balance is very fragile, and a mineral mine right on the edge of the protected area threatens to put that balance in jeopardy.

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The Great Dismal Swamp -

The Great Dismal Swamp is a massive and magnificent area in southern Virginia and North Carolina that boasts beautiful old-growth that surround Lake Drummond, one of only two naturally-formed freshwater lakes in Virginia.

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The Great Dismal Swamp -

The swamp's name is a testament to the truly dismal ignorance of 18-century explorers regarding the beauty and benefits of wetlands. The highly productive swamp and surrounding marshland are home to countless species of flora and fauna, making them an indispensable component of the Chesapeake watershed.

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Cumberland Island National Seashore -

Cumberland Island lies off the eastern coast of Georgia and is famous for its untouched, undeveloped shorelines. Beyond the beaches, however, lies an incredible wetland ecosystem of mudflats and marshlands that covers nearly 17,000 acres.

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Cumberland Island National Seashore -

Massive oak trees tower above the marshlands, covered in Virginia creeper vines and Spanish moss. The fringes of the marshlands, where there's solid ground, are frequented by all sorts of animals, such as armadillos and white-tailed deer.

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Kenai National Wildlife Refuge -

Even though Alaska isn't commonly associated with wetlands the way states like Georgia and North Carolina are, America's northernmost state is in fact home to 63% of the nation's wetlands.

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Kenai National Wildlife Refuge -

One of Alaska's many protected areas is the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, a wildly popular breeding ground for all kinds of birds. In fact, many of the same birds spotted in California during the wintertime can be found in Kenai during the summer months.

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Biscayne National Park -

Biscayne National Park lies off the coast of Florida, and consists of mostly water. It was established to protect the coral limestone reefs that lie beneath the surface and other coastal features.

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Biscayne National Park -

Biscayne is also home to a breathtaking 14-mile (22.5 km) coastline covered in mangrove trees. These trees and their sturdy, complex root system, which are visible above the water, fortify an otherwise fragile coastline and dramatically curb erosion.

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Klamath Marsh -

Another popular stop for migrating birds following the Pacific Flyway is the Klamath Marsh, a federally designated wildlife refuge in the western state of Oregon. The official refuge covers 40,000 acres of wet plains and marshland.

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Klamath Marsh -

The illustrious list of frequent visitors to the Klamath Marsh includes sandhill cranes, peregrine falcons, and even America's national bird, the bald eagle. The surrounding pine forests are also home to elk, owls, and bears.

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Congaree National Park -

South Carolina's Congaree National Park, which lies inside the much larger Congaree ecosystem, is the last remnants of a massive old-growth forest that once covered the entire state and beyond before the intervention of European industrialists.

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Congaree National Park -

Congaree was named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1983 in honor of its concentration of old-growth trees and ancient hardwoods. Congaree Forest, which overlaps the marshlands by a wide margin, boasts one of the tallest canopies of any American forest.

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Merritt National Wildlife Refuge -

Florida's Merritt National Wildlife Refuge, most famous for being home to the Kennedy Space Center, is also one of the most beautiful and diverse protected areas in the United Sates. While considerably smaller than the Everglades, it has just as much to offer.

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Merritt National Wildlife Refuge -

Located halfway down Florida's east coast, Merritt National Wildlife Refuge is home to a vast assortment of animals, including Florida panthers, the endangered West Indian manatees, and roseate spoonbills (pictured).

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Atchafalaya Swamp -

Louisiana's Atchafalaya Swamp holds the title as America's largest river swamp, and stretches across 2,200 square miles (5,700 square km) of Louisiana's boot.

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Atchafalaya Swamp -

Atchafalaya holds many other superlatives, including having the largest population of bald eagles in the southern United States, and being home to the largest bottomland hardwood forest in North America.

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Caddo Lake -

Home to one of the most beautiful bald cypress forests in America, Caddo Lake is a shining gem of the South. Split between Texas and Louisiana, Caddo Lake covers over 26,000 acres of lake and marshland.

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Caddo Lake -

Like all wetland areas, hundreds of species of animals, birds, and insects call Caddo Lake home. A thriving community of American alligators are seen by tourists on a regular basis, as is the blue heron.

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Barataria Preserve -

Louisiana's Barataria Preserve, part of the larger Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, is one of America's more accessible swamps for visitors to navigate, with a comprehensive system of boardwalks stretching across most of this beautiful swamp.

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Barataria Preserve -

Barataria Preserve lies just on the outskirts of New Orleans and borders Lake Salvador. In addition to wandering the boardwalks, airboat tours and fishing permits are also available.

Sources: (TreeHugger) (National Parks Service) (TheTravel)

See also: America's 30 best national parks

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