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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

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

IMAGEMAP



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Last modified October 13, 2003 by Lisa Gardiner.
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