Question

What are estuaries? How are they formed?

Answer 1

Forming of estuaries

• As the sea rose, it drowned river valleys and filled glacial troughs, forming estuaries. Once formed, estuaries become traps for sediments – mud, sand and gravel carried in by rivers, streams, rain and run-off and sand from the ocean floor carried in by tides.

Answer 2

Answer:

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 known as ecotone.

Forming of estuaries

Initially, estuaries were formed by rising sea levels. The sea level has slowly risen over the last 12,000 years – since the end of the last ice age – but has remained relatively stable during the last 6,000 years. As the sea rose, it drowned river valleys and filled glacial troughs, forming estuaries. Once formed, estuaries become traps for sediments – mud, sand and gravel carried in by rivers, streams, rain and run-off and sand from the ocean floor carried in by tides. Tidal flats build along the shore as these sediments