Estuaries

This is a map of estuaries along the east coast of the United States. Notice how the rivers get very wide as they get closer to the ocean? This is because the salt water of the ocean is coming in to meet the fresh water of the river.
Click on image for full size ( 530K GIF )
Image courtesy of EPA

Have you ever been swimming in the ocean? If you got any of the water in your mouth, you'll know that that water is SALTY! Ocean water is salt water. Water found in rivers, lakes, creeks, and streams is called fresh water.

There is a special name for the environment where salt water and fresh water mix. The name is estuary.

A good example of an estuary is a salt marsh that is near the coast. Another example is when a river feeds directly into the ocean. The biggest estuary in the United States is Chesapeake Bay.

All kinds of plants and animals live in estuaries! And so it's important to protect these estuaries from pollution or damage.

Life in Chesapeake Bay

Map of some estuaries Looking at this map will give you a good idea of where estuaries are located (mostly on the coast!)

A fun activity dealing with the density of salt water versus fresh water

The Water Cycle

Estuaries

This is a map of estuaries in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. eastern coast including the well-known Chesapeake Bay Estuary. Notice how the rivers get very wide as they get closer to the ocean? This is where the salt water of the ocean is mixing with the fresh water of the rivers.
Click on image for full size ( 530K GIF )
Image courtesy of EPA

An estuary is a very special place where fresh water and salt water come together. Estuaries are found on the coast where fresh water like a river or a bay has access to the ocean. A good example of an estuary is a salt marsh that can be found close to the coast. Another example is when a river feeds directly into the ocean. The largest estuary in the United States is the Chesapeake Bay estuary.

The mixing of fresh and salt water creates a different environment, but estuaries are still home to a lot of plants, animals and bacteria! When looking at estuaries, scientists quickly realized that these areas were extremely nutrient-rich because of sediment deposit of rivers, creeks or streams feeding into the salt water environment.

Unfortunately, estuaries haven't always been seen as valuable. In the past, they were seen as worthless and were even used as dumps! In 1972, Congress created the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) to protect the estuaries around the U.S.

Life in Chesapeake Bay

Map of the NERRS sponsored sites Looking at this map will give you a good idea of where estuaries are located (mostly on the coast!)

A fun activity dealing with the density of salt water versus fresh water

The Water Cycle

Estuaries

This is a map of estuaries in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. eastern coast including the well-known Chesapeake Bay Estuary. Notice how the rivers get very wide as they get closer to the ocean? This is where the salt water of the ocean is mixing with the fresh water of the rivers.
Click on image for full size ( 530K GIF )
Image courtesy of EPA

An estuary is an unique environment where fresh water and salt water come together. Estuaries are found on the coast where a river or bay or other source of fresh water has access to the open sea. A good example of an estuary is a salt marsh that can be found close to the coast. Another example is when a river feeds directly into the ocean. The largest estuary in the United States is the Chesapeake Bay estuary on the east coast of the U.S.

Estuaries are affected by the tides. So, there can be changes of salinity, temperature and other physical properties in an estuarial system which means the organisms there must be very tolerant to change. Even with that consideration, estuaries are among the most fertile places in the world. All kinds of plants and animals live there! When looking at estuaries, scientists quickly realized that these areas were extremely nutrient-rich because of sediment deposit of rivers, creeks or streams feeding into the salt water environment.

Unfortunately, estuaries haven't always been seen as valuable. In the past, they were seen as worthless and were used as dumps, or places for new land development (by filling in the marshy area!). In 1972, Congress created the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) to establish, manage, and maintain estuary reserves, and to provide for their long-term stewardship.

Life in Chesapeake Bay

Map of the NERRS sponsored sites Looking at this map will give you a good idea of where estuaries are located (mostly on the coast!)

A fun activity dealing with the density of salt water versus fresh water

The Water Cycle

Last modified October 13, 2003 by Lisa Gardiner.
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Estuaries

This is a map of estuaries along the east coast of the United States. Notice how the rivers get very wide as they get closer to the ocean? This is because the salt water of the ocean is coming in to meet the fresh water of the river. Click on image for full size ( 530K GIF ) Image courtesy of EPA

Estuaries

Estuaries

This is a map of estuaries along the east coast of the United States. Notice how the rivers get very wide as they get closer to the ocean? This is because the salt water of the ocean is coming in to meet the fresh water of the river.
Click on image for full size ( 530K GIF )
Image courtesy of EPA