Wetlands are any land that is flooded with shallow water all or most of the time. They are a natural water holding system. Many animals come to wetlands to drink water when they are thirsty.
湿地是指所有时间或大部分时间都被浅水淹没的土地。它们是天然的蓄水系统。许多动物口渴时都会到湿地喝水。
There are many types of wetlands. Among them, bogs, marshes and swamps are the three main types. In bogs, only mosses and a few other kinds of plants can grow. Grassy plants like cattails and reeds are the most common plants in a marsh. A swamp is a forest whose ground is underwater all or most of the time. Unlike bogs or marshes, a swamp is full of trees and bushes, with some trees standing tall as a tower. A special kind of rose also grows here. The swamp is worth a short tour, but you'd better not try without a guide. There are hidden pools of water, thick mud, and sometimes big crocodiles looking for their next meal.
湿地有很多种。其中，泥沼、草本沼泽和沼泽是三种主要类型。在泥沼中，只有苔藓和少数其他种类的植物能够生长。在草本沼泽中，最常见的植物是香蒲和芦苇等草类植物。沼泽是一片其地面永久或大部分时间都处于水下的森林。与泥沼或草本沼泽不同，沼泽里满是树木和灌木，有些树木就像塔一样高。一种特殊的玫瑰也生长在这里。来一次短途旅行去看看沼泽是值得的，但如果没有导游的话，最好就不要尝试了。这里有隐藏的水潭、厚厚的淤泥，有时还有正在寻找下一顿美餐的大鳄鱼。
Hungry crocodiles aren't the only animals that make the wetlands their home. Otters, turtles, frogs, snakes and many other animals do too. The water is home to many kinds of fish and crabs. Birds, including ducks, geese and cranes, use wetlands seasonally during their long migrations.
饥饿的鳄鱼并不是唯一以湿地为家的动物。水獭、龟、青蛙、蛇和许多其他动物也栖息于此。水中生活着各种各样的鱼和蟹。鸭子、鹅、鹤等鸟类在漫长的迁徙途中会季节性地利用湿地。
Wetlands are important because they provide habitats for plants and animals. A wetland system can also protect shorelines, make polluted waters clean, prevent floods, and restore underground water supplies. It is important to let the wetlands perform their usual functions. Therefore, many voluntary groups work to protect wetlands by providing different services, such as clean-up events and educating the public.
湿地很重要，因为它们为动植物提供了栖息地。湿地系统还可以保护海岸线，净化被污染的水域，防洪以及恢复地下水供应。让湿地发挥惯常的作用至关重要。因此，许多志愿团体通过提供不同的服务，如清洁活动和公众教育，来保护湿地。