Estuaries Crossword

2. A __________ is characterized by large flat fan-shaped deposits of sediment at the mouth of a river.
4. __________ estuaries are characterized by barrier beaches or islands that form parallel to the coastline and separate the estuary from the ocean. [two words]
8. In the ocean the concentration of salts, or __________, averages about 35 parts per thousand.
10. Waters whose salt content is between that of freshwater and that of seawater are called __________.
12. Estuaries formed by rivers or streams entering massive lakes are called __________ estuaries.
14. __________ are steep-walled river valleys created by advancing glaciers that later became flooded with seawater as the glaciers retreated.
15. Estuaries and their surrounding wetlands act as _______ that stabilize shorelines and protect coastal areas from floods, storm surges, and excessive erosion.
16. __________ estuaries are formed when the earth’s tectonic plates run into or fold-up underneath each other.
17. Estuaries are some of the most fertile ecosystems on earth, yet they may also be one of the most __________.

1. __________ estuaries are formed when rising sea levels flood existing river valleys. [two words]
3. An __________ is a partially enclosed body of water and its adjacent habitats where saltwater from the ocean mixes with freshwater from rivers or streams.
5. The salinity of estuarine water is __________ from one day to the next.
6. Estuaries provide habitat for more than 75 percent of the __________ harvested in the United States.
7. __________ is a spongy matrix of live roots, decomposing organic material, and soil that helps filter pollutants out of the water.
9. One reason that estuaries are so productive is that the water filtering through them brings in __________ from the surrounding watershed.
10. __________ beaches and islands are formed by the accumulation of sand or sediments deposited by ocean waves.
11. Estuaries are typically classified based on how saltwater and freshwater mix in the estuary and on their __________.
13. Most areas of the earth experience __________ high and low tides each day.