Swamps are wet muddy land covered by trees and shrubs, but they are more than that.
Swamps are one of the only landforms that hold a large variety of mammals, fish, reptiles, birds, and insects. They include such tall trees as the Bald Cypress, Elm, Oaks, and Tupelo. Swamps help to purify our drinking water. They keep many surrounding areas from being flooded. But many swamps are being drained for farmland, housing developments, and businesses.