ABSTRACT
As a child, I frequently explored stagnant, waterlogged areas. We called these places swamps, bogs, and marshes. I found these areas fascinating and full of mystery. The rank smells of decay and the wild, tangled overgrowth contrasted sharply with the drier and less fecund lands nearby. Who knew what creatures and insects hid among the dense and unruly growth? What unfamiliar dangers were lurking in these strange places? Stepping into the gooey mud, I was never quite sure that it would let go of my shoes. Images of losing my way in the dense overgrowth or being held forever in the clutching mud filled my head. These swamps, with their strange and mysterious air, offered a source of entertainment for a child at play. However, most grown-ups at the time viewed them quite differently.
