difference between delta and estuary
Answers
A river delta is a triangular river mouth with several branches, side flows and bayous. The delta is formed by the silt and terrain carried by the river flow along the river, and it little by little lenghtens the flow of the river towards the sea.
An estuary is a river mouth which resembles a funnel and which widens, deepens and opens toward the sea. An estuary is formed by a tidal bore, which ablates the riverbed and carries the silt out to sea.
The rule of thumb is that where there is a noticeable tide, the rivers form estuaries: where there is little or no tide, rivers form deltas. All European rivers which flow to Atlantic (tide present) have estuaries, such as Thames, Tejo, Loire, Seine, Rhine or Elbe. Those rivers which flow to Mediterranean (no tide), such as Tiber, Nile, Po or Ebro, form deltas.
Deltas are extremely fertile, and most civilizations of the old have formed along river valleys and deltas. Estuaries make excellent harbours and fisheries, and many important port towns are located on estuaries.
Delta Air Lines, Inc., typically referred to as simply Delta, is a major United States airline, with its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and maritime environments.