On another less politically charged topic.
why are Swamps seen as evil in fiction? And even in terms of phrases like "drain the swamp" wetlands are very important to the ecosystem and are facasnatimg
Swamps are associated with disease. In ancient and medieval times, when they believed that illnesses are the result of toxic gasses coming out of the ground, the miasma - well, what region fits more to that than damp swamps? But actually, it's not that far fetched. While the miasma theory is obviously untrue, swamps do harbour a lot of insects, which can carry diseases. Like mosquitos carrying malaria. As such, in tropical, subtropical or even just mediterranean climates, swamps near settlements can be an
actual health hazards.
As well, fairy tales and the like often served as warnings to children, and it is probably a good idea to warn children not to go into the unsafe, pathless bogs where they can easily get lost or fall prey to wild animals. The same reason the dark forest was associated with evil in fairy tales. You definitely don't want a child to go run off to to there, either.
Are not lakes also bodies of fresh water and their for also breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses?
Lakes are typically moving water, with an influx and a drain - one or more rivers flows into it, one river exits it. They can be pretty, uh, slow moving, with some brackish parts, but on the whole, they are moving. Meanwhile, swamps are typically standing, stale water. They are
all brackish.
