Estuary
An
estuary is a mouth of a
river with a triangle form, semi-enclosed
coastal body of
water which has a free connection with the open
sea and within which
seawater mixes with
fresh water. The key feature of an estuary is that it is a mixing place for
sea water and a
stream or
river to supply fresh water. A
tide is a necessary
force to maintain a dynamic relationship at the meeting between the two waters. In non-tidal seas, the rivers naturally form
deltas or
liman.
An estuary is typically the tidal mouth of a
river, and estuaries are often characterised by
sedimentation of
silt carried in from terrestrial runoff. Estuaries are more likely to occur on
submerged coasts, where the sea level has risen in relation to the land, as this process floods
valleys to form
rias and
fjords. These can become estuaries if there is a stream or river flowing into them.
The Estuary is also a term used to describe the region of the
River Thames and adjoining communities east of
Central London in the
United Kingdom. The term
Estuary English is frequently used to describe the accent of the people in this region, though it has since spread across
South East England. It is sometimes mistaken for the
Cockney accent by listeners unfamiliar with the varieties.
*
Bay mud*
Brackish water*
Firth*
List of waterways*Pritchard, D. W. (1967)
What is an estuary: physical viewpoint. p. 3–5
in: G. H. Lauf (ed.)
Estuaries, A.A.A.S. Publ. No. 83, Washington, D.C.
