question_answer

  Write down the differences between a delta and an estuary.

Answer:

                  Delta (i) It is a triangular-shaped piece of land formed at the mouth of a river, where it meets the sea. (ii) With the continuous deposition of silt on its bed, a river goes on splitting itself into channels or distributaries. They carry river water into the sea. (iii) Delta shows an extension of land into sea. It is continuously growing seawards. (iv) The sea is shallow. Tidal currents are not strong enough to remove deposits effectively. (v) The world's largest and the fastest growing delta is the Ganga- Brahmaputra delta known as the Sunderban delta. Peninsular rivers like the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri also form big deltas. Estuary (i) An estuary is an inlet formed generally by the submergence of the mouth of a river. (ii) It has a single mouth or channel. It has steep banks or slopes. Where an estuary is formed, sea is deep. (iii) Strong tidal waves carry away the little amount of sediments deposited by a river. (iv) Estuaries produce an indented coastline and provide sites of natural harbours. They create conditions for better navigation. (v) The mouths of rivers Narmada and Tapi present good examples of estuaries.