North
America
South
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Pacific
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Brazil
Iworkinaplacewherethelandandoceanmeet.Itisamangroveforest.Mangrovesareagroupoftrees.Theygrowfroma tangleofrootsdeepinthemud.Thesewetlandsaretough.Theycanthriveinsaltyoceanwater.Theycanalsowithstand storms.
WelcometoBrazil
ThelongestcontinuousmangroveforestsintheworldareonthecoastofBrazil.TreesherecanstoretwiceasmuchcarboninthesoilasthenearbyAmazon rainforest.
![](/nationalgeographic/trailblazer_may_2020/welcome_to_brazil_and_the_power_of_mangroves/718504/NGX0520_EE_22A.480_0_1.jpg)
A scarletibisfindsahomeinthe mangrove.
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Shipwormsnibbleawayatdead wood.
Mangrovesarefilledwithlife.Crabs,fishes,birds,andinsectsfindfoodandhomeshere.Thebeautifulscarletibisisjustonemangrove bird.
Shipwormskeepmangroveshealthy.Theyeatdeadwood.Forpeoplewholivehere,thewetlandsareimportantforfisheriesand timber.
ThePowerofMangroves
Mangrovesprotectusfromnaturalhazards.Theyformalivingbarrierthatsheltersusfromstorms.Theylessentheeffectofwavesandhighwinds.Theyalsotrap carbon.
Thedenserootsofmangroveshelptobuildsoil.Therootsabovethegroundreduceerosion.Wemustlearntoprotectmangrovesbecausetheyprotect us.
![](/nationalgeographic/trailblazer_may_2020/welcome_to_brazil_and_the_power_of_mangroves/718503/mangrove_roots.480_0_1.jpg)
Iclimbedintotherootsofthistreetogetabetterlookatthewhole swamp.