ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Gyttja

Okay kiddo, have you ever been to a muddy place like a swamp or a pond? Well, when you go to these places you might see something called "gyttja".

Gyttja is a type of mud that is made up of a lot of different things like leaves, algae, insects, and other small creatures. When these things die, they sink to the bottom of the water and start to decompose, which means they break down into smaller parts.

As they decompose, they mix with the mud and water to form this special type of mud called gyttja. It's really important for the environment because it provides a home for a lot of different animals and plants.

So, even though it might look like just a muddy mess, gyttja is actually a really important part of the ecosystem!