Lagoon

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Definition of Lagoon:
A shallow body of water that does not receive significant freshwater inflow and that is separated from the open ocean by a barrier island or coral reef. [1] This is in contrast with estuaries that receive significant freshwater inflow. [2]
This is the common definition for Lagoon, other definitions can be discussed in the article


One may distinguish between microtidal and macrotidal lagoons. Examples of microtidal lagoons are Great South Bay and Pamlico Sound at the US Atlantic coast. Examples of macrotidal lagoons (also called tidal lagoons) are the Wadden Sea at the Dutch-German-Danish North Sea coast and the Bassin d'Arcachon at the French Atlantic coast. Tidal lagoons are distinct from microtidal lagoons by the existence of deep tidal inlets and large tidal flats.


See Also


References

  1. Pinet P.R. 1998.Invitation to Oceanography. Jones and Barlett Publishers. p. 508
  2. Pinet P.R. 1992. Oceanography: An introduction to the Planet Oceanus. West Publishing Company. p. 571