Estuary

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 and are an example of an ecotone. Estuaries are subject both to marine influences such as tides, waves, and the influx of saline water, and to fluvial influences such as flows of freshwater and sediment. The mixing of seawater and freshwater provides high levels of nutrients both in the water column and in sediment, making estuaries among the most productive natural habitats in the world.

Ƙaƙwalwar ruwa wani yanki ne da ke rufe bakin teku na ruwa mai ƙaƙƙarfan ruwa tare da koguna ɗaya ko fiye da ke gudana a cikinsa, kuma tare da haɗin kai kyauta zuwa buɗaɗɗen teku. Estuaries sun kafa yankin canji tsakanin mahallin kogi da mahallin teku kuma misali ne na ecotone. Estuaries suna ƙarƙashin tasirin ruwa kamar tides, tãguwar ruwa, da kwararar ruwan gishiri, da kuma tasirin tasirin ruwa kamar kwararar ruwa mai kyau da laka. Haɗin ruwan teku da ruwa mai daɗi yana ba da matakan sinadirai masu yawa duka a cikin ginshiƙi na ruwa da kuma a cikin laka, yana mai da magudanar ruwa a cikin mafi yawan wuraren zama na halitta a duniya.