What Is An Estuary? - WorldAtlas

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en-US"> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/> <meta name="viewport" content="user-scalable=yes, initial-scale=1.0, width=device-width"/> <meta name="robots" content="max-image-preview:large"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Security-Policy" content="block-all-mixed-content" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-an-estuary.html"/> <meta name="description" content="An estuary is the place in a body of water where the tide matches up with the stream."> <link rel="icon" href="/nwa_assets/img/site/favicon.png" type="image/x-icon"> <link rel="preload" href="https://www.worldatlas.com/nwa_assets/fonts/fontello/fontello.woff2?25012021" as="font" type="font/woff2" crossorigin> <link rel="preload" href="https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w960-q80/upload/62/b5/25/shutterstock-773731135.jpg" as="image" media="(min-width: 768px)"> <link rel="preload" href="https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w768-q80/upload/62/b5/25/shutterstock-773731135.jpg" as="image" media="(min-width: 410px) and (max-width: 767px)"> <link rel="preload" href="https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w500-q80/upload/62/b5/25/shutterstock-773731135.jpg" as="image" media="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 409px)"> <title>What Is An Estuary? - WorldAtlas</title> <meta property="og:title" content="What Is An Estuary?"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w1200-q80/upload/62/b5/25/shutterstock-773731135.jpg"/> <meta property="og:image:width:" content="1200"/> <meta property="og:image:height:" content="900"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-an-estuary.html"/> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US"/> <meta property="og:description" content="An estuary is the place in a body of water where the tide matches up with the stream."/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="WorldAtlas"/> <meta property="og:article:published_time" content="2018-05-14T05:42:51-04:00"/> <meta property="og:article:section" content="WorldAtlas Originals"/> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="1534891833401557"/> <link rel="preload" as="style" href="/build/editorial-article-desktop.019f3db7.css"> <link href="/build/editorial-article-desktop.019f3db7.css" rel="stylesheet">  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-EKNV4JVDSB"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-EKNV4JVDSB', { 'topic_id': '11163', 'writer_id': '178', 'publisher_id': '23', 'editor_id': '120', 'published_date': '2018-05-14' }); </script> <script src="/build/runtime.7576e7bf.js" type="text/javascript" defer></script> <script src="/build/editorial-article-desktop.87d73427.js" type="text/javascript" defer></script> <script type="application/ld+json">{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-an-estuary.html"},"headline":"What Is An Estuary?","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w2560-q80/upload/62/b5/25/shutterstock-773731135.jpg","width":2560,"height":1920},"datePublished":"2018-05-14T05:42:00-04:00","dateModified":"2018-05-14T05:42:51-04:00","articleSection":"Articles","description":"An estuary is the place in a body of water where the tide matches up with the stream.","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Rotich Kiptoo Victor","@id":"https://www.worldatlas.com/contributor/rotich-kiptoo-victor","sameAs":"https://www.worldatlas.com/contributor/rotich-kiptoo-victor"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.worldatlas.com/","name":"WorldAtlas","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/worldatlas","https://twitter.com/worldatlas","https://www.pinterest.ca/worldatlas/","https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-atlas"],"logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://worldatlas.com/nwa_assets/img/site/wa_2_logo_text_primary_amp.png","height":60,"width":326,"caption":"WorldAtlas Logo"}},"hasPart":{"@type":"WebPageElement","value":"What Is An Estuary?\r\nAn estuary is a place along the coast where both fresh and salt water meet. Typically, estuaries occur where the river meets the sea and are partially enclosed. This mixing of water provides an environment rich in nutrients, and therefore estuaries are considered among the most productive ecosystems in the world. Although estuaries are productive, they suffer massive challenges. Approximately 60% of the human population lives along estuaries. This encroachment has led to the degradation of waters with factors such as sedimentation, overfishing, eutrophication, and pollution by heavy metals. An estuary can also be termed as a harbor, lagoon, bay, inlet, sound, wetland and swamp. Estuaries are protected from massive ocean forces by coral reefs in most cases.\r\nTypes Of Estuaries\r\nThere are four well-known types of inlets and they include bar-built estuaries (a protected shallow lagoon), coastal plain estuaries (formed by a rising sea level), tectonic estuaries (through folding and faulting), and Fjords and rias.\r\nEstuarine Ecosystems\r\nBoth ocean and land make up this unique environment. It is a source of nutrients for millions of plants and animal species. Estuarine ecosystems propel nourishment to the surrounding organisms for example fish, lobsters, reeds, algae, mangroves, and phytoplankton. They are rich in organic matter, and this provides an opportunity for photosynthesis to take place in water. Complicated organic matter presents releases ammonia, phosphates and nitrates through decomposition by micro-organisms. These in turn act as food for burrowing invertebrates like crabs and shellfish. Sharks use these ecosystems as pupping grounds and bear young ones in them (where they feed and grow to maturity).\r\nImportance Of Estuaries\r\nEstuaries exhibit economic, ecological and cultural values. Breakdown of organic matter by microbes helps to maintain good water quality, with pollutants trapped by sediments. They play a significant role in balancing biodiversity of organisms such as fish, mammals and other wildlife. Migratory birds also use estuaries to rest and eat. Estuaries have many economic values such as acting as tourist destinations, maintaining water quality for humans and animals, maintaining biodiversity, for commercial fisheries and working as a buffer between land and the water body. Estuaries pose a tremendous cultural value such as offering learning opportunities, scientific knowledge and add the aesthetic value of a place. They also provide excellent recreational opportunities such as surfing, swimming, fishing, boating and bird watching. Estuaries are rich in resources which generate positive lifestyles and they are irreplaceable.\r\nReasons For Protecting And Preserving Estuaries\r\nThere is a need to protect and defend estuaries since they are regions for human settlement (every human being deserves conducive living conditions). Any form of pollution in the bay destroys plant and animal populations. A variety of species of organisms depend on estuaries for survival. Minimizing the use of fertilizers in farmyards and treating domestic and industrial wastewater are some ways of protecting estuaries. On the other hand, state agencies should implement strict legislation to curb degradation of estuaries."},"isAccessibleForFree":"http://schema.org/True"}</script> <script type="text/javascript" async="async" data-noptimize="1" data-cfasync="false" src="//scripts.pubnation.com/tags/af7c1dab-ebf1-4768-8b49-e4fe264a4ad8.js"></script> <style> /* MV CSS to be added to site */ @media only screen and (min-width: 1024px) { .wa-stickyAsideParent #adStickyAside { position: static !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 359px) { .pagination_list { flex-wrap: wrap !important; } #content_body h2 { word-break: break-word !important; } } /* End MV CSS */ </style>  <script> var _paq = window._paq = window._paq || []; /* tracker methods like "setCustomDimension" should be called before "trackPageView" */ _paq.push(['trackPageView']); _paq.push(['enableLinkTracking']); (function() { var u="https://matomo.yourwriterportal.com/"; _paq.push(['setTrackerUrl', u+'matomo.php']); _paq.push(['setSiteId', '1']); var d=document, g=d.createElement('script'), s=d.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; g.async=true; g.src=u+'matomo.js'; s.parentNode.insertBefore(g,s); })(); </script>  </head> <body> <div id="wa_siteWrapper"> <div id="pageBody"> <article id="article_content" class="mod_content" > <section id="content_body" class="content_body"> <header> <h1>What Is An Estuary?</h1> </header> <figure class="article_featured_media content_media_fixed"> <picture style="padding-top: 75%;"> <source media="(min-width: 768px)" sizes="960px" srcset="https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w960-q80/upload/62/b5/25/shutterstock-773731135.jpg 960w"> <source media="(min-width: 410px) and (max-width: 767px)" sizes="768px" srcset="https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w768-q80/upload/62/b5/25/shutterstock-773731135.jpg 768w"> <source media="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 409px)" sizes="500px" srcset="https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w500-q80/upload/62/b5/25/shutterstock-773731135.jpg 500w"> <img id="featured_media" src="/r/w1200/upload/62/b5/25/shutterstock-773731135.jpg" alt="An estuary at the River Thames. " fetchpriority="high" > </picture> <figcaption>An estuary at the River Thames. </figcaption> </figure> <section> <h2>What Is An Estuary? </h2> <p>An estuary is a place along the coast where both fresh and salt water meet. Typically, estuaries occur where the river meets the sea and are partially enclosed. This mixing of water provides an environment rich in nutrients, and therefore estuaries are considered among the most productive ecosystems in the world. Although estuaries are productive, they suffer massive challenges. Approximately 60% of the human population lives along estuaries. This encroachment has led to the degradation of waters with factors such as sedimentation, overfishing, eutrophication, and pollution by heavy metals. An estuary can also be termed as a harbor, lagoon, bay, inlet, sound, wetland and swamp. Estuaries are protected from massive ocean forces by coral reefs in most cases. </p> <h2>Types Of Estuaries </h2> <p>There are four well-known types of inlets and they include bar-built estuaries (a protected shallow lagoon), coastal plain estuaries (formed by a rising sea level), tectonic estuaries (through folding and faulting), and Fjords and rias. </p> <h2>Estuarine Ecosystems </h2> <p>Both ocean and land make up this unique environment. It is a source of nutrients for millions of plants and animal species. Estuarine ecosystems propel nourishment to the surrounding organisms for example fish, lobsters, reeds, algae, mangroves, and phytoplankton. They are rich in organic matter, and this provides an opportunity for photosynthesis to take place in water. Complicated organic matter presents releases ammonia, phosphates and nitrates through decomposition by micro-organisms. These in turn act as food for burrowing invertebrates like crabs and shellfish. Sharks use these ecosystems as pupping grounds and bear young ones in them (where they feed and grow to maturity). </p> <h2>Importance Of Estuaries </h2> <p>Estuaries exhibit economic, ecological and cultural values. Breakdown of organic matter by microbes helps to maintain good water quality, with pollutants trapped by sediments. They play a significant role in balancing biodiversity of organisms such as fish, mammals and other wildlife. Migratory birds also use estuaries to rest and eat. Estuaries have many economic values such as acting as tourist destinations, maintaining water quality for humans and animals, maintaining biodiversity, for commercial fisheries and working as a buffer between land and the water body. Estuaries pose a tremendous cultural value such as offering learning opportunities, scientific knowledge and add the aesthetic value of a place. They also provide excellent recreational opportunities such as surfing, swimming, fishing, boating and bird watching. Estuaries are rich in resources which generate positive lifestyles and they are irreplaceable. </p> <h2>Reasons For Protecting And Preserving Estuaries </h2> <p>There is a need to protect and defend estuaries since they are regions for human settlement (every human being deserves conducive living conditions). Any form of pollution in the bay destroys plant and animal populations. A variety of species of organisms depend on estuaries for survival. Minimizing the use of fertilizers in farmyards and treating domestic and industrial wastewater are some ways of protecting estuaries. On the other hand, state agencies should implement strict legislation to curb degradation of estuaries. </p> </section> <div class="article_credits_social"> <strong>Share</strong> <ul class="navSocial"> <li><button class="socialAction wa_badge_black icon-flipboard-icon" data-url="https://share.flipboard.com/bookmarklet/popout?v=2&title=What%20Is%20An%20Estuary%3F&url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-an-estuary.html" aria-label="Share on Flipboard"></a></li> <li><button class="socialAction wa_badge_black icon-facebook" data-url="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-an-estuary.html" aria-label="Share on Facebook"></button></li> <li><button class="socialAction wa_badge_black icon-twitter" data-url="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.worldatlas.com%2Farticles%2Fwhat-is-an-estuary.html&text=What%20Is%20An%20Estuary%3F&url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-an-estuary.html" aria-label="Share on Twitter"></button></li> <li><button class="socialAction wa_badge_black icon-pinterest" data-url="https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-an-estuary.html" aria-label="Share on Pinterest"></button></li> <li><button class="socialAction wa_badge_black icon-linkedin" data-url="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-is-an-estuary.html&title=What%20Is%20An%20Estuary%3F&source=WorldAtlas" aria-label="Share on LinkedIn"></button></li> </ul> </div> <div class="article_byline"> <span><a href="/contributor/rotich-kiptoo-victor" class="content_contributor"><span>Rotich Kiptoo Victor</span></a> <time datetime="2018-05-14">May 14 2018</time> in <a href="https://www.worldatlas.com/environment/">Environment</a></span> </div> <section class="mod_breadcrumbs breadcrumbs_in_content"> <ol itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/BreadcrumbList"> <li itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ListItem"> <a itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/WebPage" itemid="https://www.worldatlas.com/" itemprop="item" href="https://www.worldatlas.com/"><span itemprop="name">Home</span></a> <meta itemprop="position" content="1"> </li> <li itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ListItem"> <a itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/WebPage" itemid="https://www.worldatlas.com/environment/" itemprop="item" href="https://www.worldatlas.com/environment/"><span itemprop="name">Environment</span></a> <meta itemprop="position" content="2"> </li> <li itemprop="itemListElement" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ListItem"> <span itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/WebPage" itemid="https://www.worldatlas.com" itemprop="item" content="https://www.worldatlas.com"><span itemprop="name">What Is An Estuary?</span></span> <meta itemprop="position" content="3"> </li> </ol> </section> </section> <aside id="content_sidebar" class="content_aside"> <h2 class="sidebar_header">Related</h2> <div class="mod_grid_list grid_stack"> <article class="grid_item mod_bclip bclip_full_16x9" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/WebPage"> <div class="bclip_container"> <a href="/articles/what-are-the-differences-between-a-lagoon-and-an-estuary.html" itemprop="relatedLink"> <figure class="bclip_media_box" itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject"> <picture> <source media="(min-width: 768px)" sizes="400px" srcset="https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w400-h225-q40/upload/62/b5/25/shutterstock-773731135.jpg 400w"> <source media="(min-width: 575px) and (max-width: 767px)" sizes="575px" srcset="https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w575-h323-q40/upload/62/b5/25/shutterstock-773731135.jpg 575w"> <source media="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 574px)" sizes="425px" srcset="https://www.worldatlas.com/r/w425-h239-q40/upload/62/b5/25/shutterstock-773731135.jpg 425w"> <img class="bclip_media" src="/r/w1200/upload/62/b5/25/shutterstock-773731135.jpg" alt="The estuary of the River Thames. 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