What is a body of water formed when a river empties into the sea without forming a delta?
a) Estuary
b) Lagoon
c) Tributary
d) Glacier
Answer: a) Estuary
Explanation
-
Estuary: A semi-enclosed coastal body of water where a river empties directly into the sea or ocean without forming a delta.
-
Formation: This typically happens when rivers flow with high velocity or encounter strong tidal currents that sweep away sediments as fast as the river deposits them, preventing the accumulation needed to form a triangular delta. Instead, fresh river water mixes freely with tidal saltwater (e.g., the Narmada and Tapti rivers form large estuaries on the western coast of India before draining into the Arabian Sea).
Overview of Other Options
-
b) Lagoon: A shallow body of saltwater separated from the open sea by a low sandbar, barrier island, or coral reef (e.g., Chilika Lake).
-
c) Tributary: A smaller stream or river that flows into and joins a larger parent river.
-
d) Glacier: A large, slow-moving mass of compacted ice formed on land, which often serves as the freshwater source for rivers.
