Estuaries

Shore

zone b/w lowest and highest area on land affected by waves

Coast

extends inland as far as ocean related features are found on land

Coastline

boundary b/w shore and coast

Estuary

partially enclosed body of water where freshwater runoff dilutes salty ocean water

Head

where freshwater comes into the estuary

Mouth

where ocean water comes into the estuary

Coastal plain estuary (drowned river valley)

Formed when seawater floods a river valley

Fjord

Formed when seawater floods a glaciated valley

Bar built estuary

Lagoon separated by sand bar or barrier island

Tectonic estuary

Faulted down dropped area in Earth’s crust is flooded by the ocean

Wetland

ecosystem with water table close to the surface

Mangrove forests

type of wetland, community dominated by trees and shrubs that grow in salt water (mid to high latitudes)

Salt marshes

type of wetland, grow in muds and sands that are sheltered by barrier islands, have donation (low latitudes)

San Francisco Bay

example of a slightly stratified tectonic estuary

Chesapeake Bay

example of a slightly stratified coastal plain/drowned river estuary