Congo: discovered large swamp containing billions of tons of peat

Scientists have discovered a swamp that is about the size of England, containing billions of tons of peat in the remote area of ​​the Republic of Congo.

A sample of peat is taken from the vast swamp in the remote Brazzaville in the Congo Republic - (Photo: BBC News)

A team of scientists from the Wildlife Conservation Research Project at the University of Leeds (UK) and Marien Ngouabi University (Brazzaville, Congo) have discovered a swamp about 100,000 - 200,000 square kilometers in remote areas. sticky in Congo. Below is a layer of 7m thick peat containing billions of tons of peat.

Dr. Lewis of the research team said: 'Peat forms under slow decomposition conditions, so most areas with peat are often located in cold areas. It is rare, when for the first time a large amount of peat formed in the tropical environment - wet and warm. It was really strange and unusual. "

So with the discovery this time scientists can shed light on environmental change within 10 thousand years. At the same time, it helps scientists better understand how the role of the Congo River basin in the past has affected today's climate.

Scientists will set up doses within the area, conducting research for about three weeks. Samples of peat are now sent to the laboratory to measure age and look for the vegetation contained in this peat layer.