Geography Estuary An estuary is a partially enclosed body of coastal water where fresh water from rivers and streams mixes with saltwater from the oceans. Estuaries and their surrounding lands are considered places of transition from land to sea. Although influenced by tides, they are also protected from the full force of ocean waves, winds and storms by landforms such as barrier islands or peninsulas. Estuarine environments are among the most productive on earth, creating more organic ... Open access peer-reviewed chapter1. Overview Typically bordering between sea and land, estuaries are among the most diversely utilised tidal waterways on the planet. From an oceanographic perspective, an estuary is a coastal area where the hydrodynamics are characterised by the mixing of freshwater from rivers and saltwater from the sea/ocean, which creates a unique brackish environment that is typically rich in nutrients and supports diverse ecosystems. Dyer’s [1] classic definition ... ESTUARY definition: 1. the wide part of a river at the place where it joins the sea: 2. the wide part of a river at…. Learn more. What is an Estuary? A Coastal Crossroads of Life An estuary is a dynamic and vital coastal ecosystem where freshwater rivers meet and mix with saltwater from the ocean. This unique confluence creates a brackish environment characterized by varying salinity levels, making estuaries incredibly productive habitats for a diverse range of plant and animal life. Understanding Estuaries: The Meeting Place of Rivers and Seas Estuaries are not simply rivers flowing into the ocean; they are complex ...
