湿(しつげん)

しつげん
noun
marshland; wetlands
1. marshland; wetlands; bog
A low-lying area of land that is saturated with water and often features unique plant and animal life.
釧路(くしろ)湿原(しつげん)日本(にほん)最大(さいだい)湿原(しつげん)だ。
Kushiro Marshland is the largest wetland in Japan.
湿原(しつげん)には(めずら)しい動植物(どうしょくぶつ)がいる。
Rare plants and animals live in the wetlands.
湿原(しつげん)保護(ほご)する活動(かつどう)参加(さんか)する。
To participate in activities to protect the wetlands.

湿原(しつげん) refers to a wetland or marshland — a low-lying area saturated with water that supports unique plant and animal life. Composed of 湿(しつ) (moist) + (げん) (field/plain).

FAMOUS WETLANDS IN JAPAN:

  • 釧路(くしろ)湿原(しつげん): Kushiro Marshland in Hokkaido, Japan's largest wetland
  • 尾瀬(おぜ)(はら): Oze Marshland, a popular hiking destination
  • 竹富(たけとみ)(じま)湿原(しつげん): wetlands of Taketomi Island

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • 湿原(しつげん)(ある)く: to walk through a wetland
  • 湿原(しつげん)保全(ほぜん): wetland conservation

CONSERVATION:
Many of Japan's wetlands are registered under the Ramsar Convention (ラムサール{条約(じょうやく)}) for international wetland protection.

RELATED TERMS:

  • 湿地(しっち): wetland (more general term)
  • (ぬま): swamp, marsh
  • 泥炭地(でいたんち): peatland