Chapter 15 Wetlands 371 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. • Dry or playa lakes are marshlike ponds that receive water primarily from surface runoff and precipitation. They are referred to as dry lakes because they periodically remain dry for up to several years, Figure 15-17. The muddy soil in a marsh is rich in nutrients and the overall pH tends to be neutral or alka- line. The characteristics of freshwater marshes make suitable habitats for a variety of wildlife, including birds, snakes, alligators, turtles, rac- coons, and muskrats. Pocosins Pocosins are nontidal wetlands that lack fl owing water and contain ocean-derived salts in small concentrations. Pocosin wetlands occur in the southeastern portions of the Atlantic coastal plains from southern Virginia to northern Florida, but the majority is found in North Carolina, Figure 15-18. Pocosins form as organic materials accumulate over time in shal- low basins with no natural drainage or supply of fl owing water. These wetlands occupy poorly drained higher grounds and are often located between coastal freshwater marshes and deep water swamp forests. As with bogs and fens, the slow decomposition of the vegetative materials creates acidic, sandy, tar-like peat soils with little nutritive value. There is very little, if any, standing water but the soil remains saturated with groundwater. As with many types of wetlands, poco- sins typically experience short dry periods. The term pocosin is an Algonquin word meaning swamp on a hill. Did You Know? Paul Brady Photography/Shutterstock.com Figure 15-17. The Racetrack Playa is a dry lakebed in the Death Valley National Park. The playa is referred to as the Racetrack due to its strange moving rocks. Dawn Damico/Shutterstock.com Figure 15-18. Pocosins make ideal resting grounds for migratory birds. The birds can easily access groundwater that sits just below the surface of the black soil.