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4.6.1. Characters


An Estuary is a semi enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it.


It has a free connection with open sea.


The complete salinity range from 0-35 ppt is seen from the head (river end) to the mouth (sea end) of an estuary.

An estuary has very little wave action, so it provides a calm refuge from the open sea. It provides the shelter for some of the animals.

It is the most productive region as it receives the high amount of nutrients from fresh and marine water.


Estuaries are most heavily populated areas throughout the world, with about 60% of the world’s population living along estuaries and the coast.

Coastal lakes which have their connection with the sea through small openings are better known as lagoons or backwaters. They exhibit a gradient in salinity from freshwater to marine depending upon the extent of influence of the sea water.