Great Wetlands of the World

Protecting an undervalued natural treasure

By Esri's StoryMaps team

Eight photos, each circular in the shape and differing in size, form a collage showing different wetland environments, or inhabitants of wetlands. Note that all the photos in this story are framed within a circle. The cover images include: Green trees packed densely along the shore of calm water. Two people in a small fishing boat, one is holding up two large fish. Satellite image of wetlands that experience seasonal flooding as the current water patterns show thin rivers of water surrounded by dark green vegetation in the areas where the water flows in the wet season. Tall, thin coniferous and deciduous trees with a river flowing in the background. An aerial view of dozens of small ponds surrounded by green grasslands. A jaguar lurks under trees in a sandy area surrounded by tree branches. Two white geese with black wings flying across a clear blue sky. An aerial view of a horseshoe bend in a river winding through a forest on a bright day with cumulus clouds in the background.

Wetlands are perhaps nature's least appreciated landscapes.

Left image: A marshland landscape with brown and green grasses in the foreground and foothills in the background. Right image: An aerial view of a river delta with areas of green islands surrounded by rivers.

Many of us may think of swamps, marshes, and bogs as mosquito-infested mudholes. In fact, they're vital to the health of ecosystems, maintenance of water quality, reduction of flood impacts, and moderation of climate change. And they're places of beauty.

Left image: Satellite image of a river delta during the dry season. The thin rivers wind through the dark green delta area. Right image: A small child leans over a bucket in a shallow river, with fishing boats visible in the background

Scroll to explore the world's largest wetland areas. Throughout the tour you'll learn about some of the myriad benefits of wetlands.

Wetlands of international importance

More than 150 nations have agreed to protect designated wetlands under the Ramsar Convention, a treaty named after the Iranian city where the agreement was drafted. The treaty went into effect in 1975 and currently covers more than 2,200 sites.

Ramsar wetlands around the world

This map locates the Ramsar wetlands; pop-ups summarize their size, "social use," and threats. Size of circles is proportional to wetland extents.

Thousands of additional wetlands across the globe face a variety of threats. More than half of U.S. and European wetlands have already been lost to development, draining, and other activities.