The Mobile-Tensaw River Delta is our state's largest wetland and provides a vital habitat for many plants and animals. Rich soil deposited into the shallow bay areas by the Coosa, Tallapoosa, Black Warrior, Tombigbee and Alabama Rivers built the Delta.

The Delta is 10 miles wide, 40 miles long and includes 250,000 acres of marsh, cypress-tupelo swamp and bottomland hardwoods. It is the second largest river delta in the United States.

The Mobile-Tensaw Delta functions as a sponge, filtering impurities from 20% of the nation's fresh water.  The aquaria in this gallery are fresh water tanks, the largest of which depicts a cypress-tupelo swamp. Some exciting animals for your students to observe include the American alligator, turtles and a primitive, air-breathing fish called a gar.