What is the difference between a watershed and a wetland?
A watershed is the area of land united by the flow of water that drains into a single outlet, often a stream or river. The network of drainage pathways may be underground or on the surface. Other terms for watershed include drainage basin or catchment. More about watersheds and wetlands can be found on our Watersheds page. A wetland, however, is an area of land consisting of soil that is permanently or intermittently saturated with moisture, such as a swamp, marsh, or bog. Wetlands support a natural ecosystem of plants and animals that are adapted to wet conditions. Wetlands can exist within a watershed along a stream or river, or they can be the drainage point for a small watershed. Check out the wetlands section of the resources page for more about wetlands.
Related Questions
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