Estuarine Ecosystem An estuary is a place where a river or a | Upsc Environment

Estuarine Ecosystem

An estuary is a place where a river or a stream opens into the sea (mouth of the river).

It is a partially enclosed coastal area of brackish water (salinity varies between 0-35 ppt) with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea.

At the estuaries, freshwater carrying fertile silt and runoff from the land mixes with the salty sea water.

Estuaries form a transition zone (ecotone) between river environments and maritime environments.

Examples of estuaries are river mouths, coastal bays, tidal marshes, lagoons and deltas.