Ahukawakawa Swamp facts for kids
The Ahukawakawa Swamp is a special kind of wet, marshy area found in Egmont National Park in the Taranaki Region of New Zealand. It's a "sphagnum bog," which means it's full of spongy mosses. This unique swamp formed about 3,500 years ago. Scientists, especially those who study plants (botanists), find it very interesting. More than 260 different types of plants have been found growing here. The swamp covers an area of about 1 square kilometer.
How the Swamp Was Formed
The Ahukawakawa Swamp sits high up, about 920 meters (3,018 feet) above sea level. It lies between the main part of Mount Taranaki and the Pouakai Range to the northwest. The Pouakai Range reaches up to 1,400 meters (4,593 feet) high.
The swamp was created about 3,500 years ago. This happened when a flow of lava and then a later mudslide blocked the Stony River. This blockage formed a raised area called The Dome, which is 1,052 meters (3,451 feet) high and sits to the west of the swamp. The water that flows out of the swamp creates the beautiful Bells Falls, which are 30 meters (98 feet) high.
The area around the swamp is still changing over time. For example, the Stony River used to be a great place for fishing. However, since 1997, a lot of soil has washed into the river from its upper parts. This has made the river very muddy.
Amazing Plants of the Swamp
This high-altitude wetland is very interesting to plant scientists. This is because many different plants have learned to live in its acidic soil and very cold temperatures. The ground is covered with sedges, herbs, grasses, and mosses.
A special type of shrub called Melicytus drucei grows only in this area. It has a unique "divaricating" shape, meaning its branches grow in a tangled, wide-spreading way. Large red tussocks are also a common sight. These grasses grow well in the cool, wet soil found here.
More than 260 different kinds of plants have been found in the swamp. Along the southern edge, you'll find scrub and areas with shrubs and tussock grasses. The plant called inaka (a type of Dracophyllum) is very common here. Other shrubs like Hebe odora and leatherwood also grow widely.
In the main part of the swamp, red tussock grass is the most common plant. You'll also see various sedges, including Carex coriacea and star sedge. There are many mosses, especially Dicranoloma robustum and sphagnum moss. In the small open water areas towards the east, you can find pond weed (Potamogeton suboblongus) and a New Zealand type of milfoil (Myriophyllum pedunculatum).
Visiting the Swamp
The Pouakai Circuit is a popular walking track that takes 2 to 3 days to complete. It's about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) long and has two huts where you can stay overnight. This track goes right through the "unique Ahukawakawa Swamp" on a special wooden walkway called a boardwalk. This boardwalk helps protect the delicate swamp plants while letting visitors explore the area.
