Mochi Isle
Wetlands · Reed WetlandScience for kidsWhat is a wetland?
In short: A wetland is land where the soil is soaked with water all year or for part of the year, such as swamps, bogs, marshes and tidal mudflats. Wetlands are home to many birds, fish and plants, and they soak up floodwater like a sponge.
How it works
Wetlands sit between land and water. Some are flooded all year; others are wet only in the rainy season and dry out later. Because the soil is so full of water, little air can get in, so only plants that cope with wet roots grow there, like reeds, bulrushes and some water-loving trees.
Wetlands come in many forms: grassy swamps, deep spongy bogs, estuary mudflats that appear at low tide, mangrove forests and shallow lake edges. What they share is soil soaked with water that is still shallow enough for plants to take root.
A wetland works like a giant sponge. In heavy rain it takes in water, stores it and lets it out slowly, which can make floods downstream smaller. In dry spells, the stored water slowly tops up rivers and the groundwater beneath our feet.
Where to see it in New Zealand
About 90 per cent of New Zealand's original wetlands have been drained for farms and towns, so the ones left are precious. Whangamarino Wetland in the Waikato and the mudflats of the Firth of Thames are internationally important wetlands, where you can see raupō, pūkeko and many migrating shorebirds.
Try it together
Tilt two trays. Lay a sponge in one as a 'wetland' and leave the other bare. Slowly pour a cup of water down each and see which one lets the water run off more slowly. With an adult, visit a wetland boardwalk and look for raupō and water birds.
Kids also ask
Are wetlands just dirty, muddy swamps?
No. They may look muddy, but wetlands are among the richest places for life on Earth. Many fish grow up there, many birds feed there, and wetlands also store water, ease floods and trap sediment.
Why have so many wetlands disappeared?
In the past, people often dug drains to dry wetlands out for farms, pasture and houses. Now that we understand how useful they are, many communities are protecting wetlands and replanting them with native plants.
In the game, “Wetlands” is a nature card on Reed Wetland.
Your child finds this card by reaching the right place or meeting the right weather on the island, and lights it up by answering the question on the back. Tap the button below and the game shows your child which island it is on and how to find it. Mochi Isle is a browser learning game for ages 5 to 18; the main island and the daily lesson are free.
Find “Wetlands” on the island ↗ All cards from Reed Wetland