1. Estuaries from land to sea

2. What is an Estuary?  An estuary is a coastal area where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with saltwater from the ocean  Estuaries are protected from the full force of the ocean by mudflats, sandspits and barrier islands  Also called: bay, lagoon, harbor, inlet, etc.

3.  Brackish water: a mix of fresh and salt water

4. Life in Estuaries  Estuaries are full of decaying plants and animals, this makes the soil of estuaries rich in nutrients.  Lots of different plants grow in estuaries because the soil is so rich  Because of the abundant plant life, many fish lay their eggs in estuaries

6. 4 Kinds of Estuaries  Bar-built  Tectonic  Coastal Plain  Fjord

7. Bar-built  Bar-built Estuaries form when a shallow lagoon or bay is protected from the ocean by a sand bar, sand delta or barrier island

8. Tectonic  Tectonic Estuaries are caused by the folding or faulting of land surfaces. These estuaries are found along major fault lines

9. Coastal Plain  Coastal Plain Estuaries are formed by the sea level rising and filling an existing river valley

10. Fjord  Fjords are U-shaped valleys formed by glacial action. Fjords are found in areas with long histories of glacier activity