Consider the following statements about the estuaries It is an area where a freshwater river or stre...........

Geography World - Water Bodies

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Consider the following statements about the estuaries

It is an area where a freshwater river or stream meets the ocean.
The brackishness in these areas remain constant throughout the year.
These areas are rich in bacteria but are devoid of planktons.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

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Explanation:

An estuary is a partially enclosed, coastal water body where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with salt water from the ocean. An estuary may also be called a bay, lagoon, sound, or slough. Although influenced by the tides, they are protected from the full force of ocean waves, winds and storms by land forms such as barrier islands or peninsulas.

In estuaries, the salty ocean mixes with a freshwater river, resulting in brackish water. Brackish water is somewhat salty, but not as salty as the ocean.

Some estuaries not located near oceans. These freshwater estuaries are created when a river flows into a freshwater lake. eg: Great Lakes, USA

Estuarine environments are among the most productive on earth, creating more organic matter each year than comparably-sized areas of forest, grassland or agricultural land.

Many plant and animal species thrive in estuaries. The calm waters provide a safe area for small fish, shellfish, migrating birds and shore animals. The waters are rich in nutrients such as plankton and bacteria. Decomposing plant matter, called detritus, provides food for many species. The estuarine crocodile, for example, is an apex predator of tropical Australian and Southeast Asian estuaries. The estuarine crocodile is the largest reptile in the world.