I also knew that I might come across some mangroves while in Soc Trang. However, I didn't expect how incredible seeing them up close would be. Mangrove forests, especially thick ones, are generally quiet places. They cannot be reached without a boat, and it helps to visit them with local guides or folks who know how to navigate the channels of the forests. The first time I saw mangroves, I felt a kind of peace. I was excited too to see these plants and trees that have an important role in ecosystems near the coast. Have any of you ever been to a mangrove forest?
Mangroves tend to live near the ocean in salty water where they can survive. In the Mekong Delta region, you can find mangroves near the coast in Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang and An Giang. In Soc Trang, there is a mangrove forest along the coastal edges of Cu Lao Dung, the island district of Soc Trang. The island sits in a large river that flows to the open sea. I went there for a picnic once with some teachers and friends.
Mangrove plants and trees need freshwater to survive, but they are able to use saltwater to sustain themselves. Some mangroves can filter saltwater when they take in water through their roots. The salt will then be released by the plants or trees through their leaves or branches (kind of like when people and some animals sweat). Other mangroves can store salt when they take in water and then move that salt to older leaves or branches. When those leaves or branches fall off the plants or trees, the salt stored there goes too. The roots of many mangroves grow partly above water. Roots that are exposed to air and to water can take in both air and water easily.
