Wetlands are lands that are covered with water all or most of the time or are flooded.
They are not considered to be firm land nor are they considered to be water bodies. Wetlands normally have fresh water, but there are also many salt-water wetlands near ocean shorelines. Canada has many different types of wetlands, such as bogs, fens, swamps, marshes and shallow waters. Each wetland class displays characteristics which set them apart biologically and hydrologically. A brief definition of major wetland types is given here, but for more detail, consult the glossary by pressing the key at the bottom of the page.